1534 Oak Street - Appropriate for the Neighborhood?

[fieldafm]

Well, I won't be able to make it to the meeting as I won't be leaving work until 6-645ish.

Anybody going to Three Layers tonight that will have gone to the LUZ meeting?

[thelakelander]

Yes, we'll be at Three Layers tonight.  If you don't see us up front, check the room in the back of the courtyard.

[riverside planner]

But the intent of the overlay was to make sure that new projects provide at least some parking (hence the 75% reduction from normal parking requirements.

Just wondering.  What type of bearing does the intent of the overlay have on a project applying for a PUD?

Our intent with the Overlay was to eliminate the need for PUDs.  So needing a PUD means the project doesn't comply with the Overlay. 

Not necessarily.  The intent of the Overlay was to substantially reduce the need for PUDs so that they would be rarely used.  As sordid as the history of this site is on the land use and zoning front, it is of a sufficiently odd configuration that a PUD may very well be warranted.  While I'm not crazy about this particular site plan and proposed structure, and there may very well be elements of the PUD (which admittedly I have not read) that are inconsistent with the Overlay, it is overly simplistic to say that the proposed PUD is inconsistent with the Overlay by virtue of being a PUD.

[grimss]

^ Thanks for the clarification.

[CS Foltz]

It would seem to me, alot of developers are making a push right now, because of the possibility of Amendment 4 coming up........it passes, there will be a whole lot of stuff stopped! Why have an Overlay if it is not to be adhered too? What about the Land Usage Plan 2030 which may have some bearing?

[I-10east]

People try to bring the hip yuppie stuff to this city that everyone crys about, and many on MJ give it a no go. I don't see anything wrong with this project. Even though it's modern, it's not ugly, or outlandish like many modern projects are. IMO it's not a big clash with the surrounding historical concerns. It's simple, modern, and clean.  

[CS Foltz]

I-10east...........are you familiar with that area? Nothing modern about the surroundings in any shape fashion or form! Got nothing against modern design but it would stick out like a sore thumb! What about something that would blend into the neighborhood rather than standout?

[I-10east]

^^^Yes I'm familiar. How about the lofty Riverside Presbyterian Apts in the area? It's not exactly the grand and stately Park Lane. It's not like they're adding some eyesore like the Wonderworks in O-Town, just a simple and modern low rise structure. The stretch with the Sushi Place is hip and trendy anyway; IMO that proposed building will be a good fit.

[RiversideLoki]

Thank you I-10.. those apartments are fugly and don't match the neighborhood. Hell, even the publix shopping center doesn't "match" the neighborhood. I think it's a perfectly appropriate project for the area.

[grimss]

Anybody have an update?? I wasn't able to make the LUZ meeting.

[grimss]

Yikes, just a call that the meeting is still ongoing and the issue unresolved, 3 1/2 hours later.

[Steve]

It ended about 8:30 - at least this issue did (LUZ was still going).  It passed with conditions.  Music will be prohibited after 10 during the week and 12 on the weekends on the deck up top, and they will have to set the building back 1 foot on the Margaret Street side.  In addition, (I believe) CM Corrigan said he was going to push for the perpendicular parking on the 1661 Side of Oak Street, as the next increase in the development as it stands is one space.

It was one of those compromises that no one was really happy about, but both sides worked together to get it done.

[jtrophy]

You know what I can't stand about this project ?  There are so many buildings already on the market that would be perfect for this project.  But lets just go ahead and build more !

I know I am not supposed to market my own property on here - but hell - it is only .4 miles from 5pts between Park and Downtown with tons of parking and it's own freestanding building   (the old Trophy Center)

WHY do developers insist on building more chaos and jumping thru dog and pony shows downtown for this ?

Stephen - you've seen the inside of my building - you know how "perfect" this would be for a restaurant !!!!  10,000 sq. ft down and 4,000 sq. ft up. As long as we let developers jump thru all the rules, empty buildings will continue to sit thanks to bankrupt developers that came and cleared the "neighborhoods"

Jeanine

[Garden guy]

This pie building will look out of place but with a space shaped like that there is'nt much else to do. Keeping all of the windows is a must in order to keep the space open and inviting..if not it's going to look like a big piece of cheese sitting on the corner. I say bringing a modern touch could'nt hurt that much but it will stick out..

[thelakelander]

While the Trophy Center is a great building, my assumption is that there is a desire by this development team to take advantage of a site situated in a great location for the uses proposed.  One of the issues with Chew now is that it is in a location (heart of downtown of all places) that is completely isolated when it comes to foot traffic and similar uses, outside of lunch hours.  For such a particular use, that same problem would exist in Brooklyn at this time.

Five Points on the other hand, is a seven day a week activity center.  It is already has the compact cluster of compatible uses that should fill Chew's doors at lunch, nights and weekends.  Other reasons for constructing new buildings could be overall cost or the desire to construct a facility that is designed (from the start) for the use planned to be put into it.