[Electronic-lan] meeting with 23rd St. developer

Sat Mar 2 17:08:31 CST 2019

Will do.
Gary

On 3/1/2019 6:26 PM, Melinda via Electronic-lan wrote:
>
> FYI:
>
> Since Rita and Patrick are not members of this email list, anything 
> they try to post to this list will automatically bounce. Gary: you 
> should let them know to respond to you and you will share their 
> responses to this list.
>
> Thanks.
>
> ...Melin
>
> On 3/1/2019 3:38 PM, Gary Webber via Electronic-lan wrote:
>> Dear LAN listserve members,
>> I thought I would reply to Rob's question (below) to the list as a 
>> way to report on the meeting.  Four community members met with 
>> Patrick Watkins and two OPUS group project members, Rita D'Agostino 
>> and Gary Schuberth. I am copying the OPUS Group representatives on 
>> this email. I encourage them to reply to this listserve to correct me 
>> if my analysis is anywhere in error.
>> They introduced the project and described the facility:
>>
>>  1. 300 bed, 3 story apartment with retail on ground level north side
>>  2. mix of studio, 1, and 2-bedroom apartments, mostly 2-bedroom
>>  3. retail parking east of building
>>  4. Retaining wall on the west boundary, lot slopped slightly down to
>>     the east
>>  5. 176 gated tenant parking spaces south of the building,
>>     first-come, first-served distribution
>>  6. hike/bike "oasis' on southeast corner of lot
>>  7. Pool in the courtyard in the center of the u-shaped building
>>  8. rain garden on east side of lot to help mitigate runoff
>>  9. $ budgeted to improve nearby bus stop on Naismith
>> 10. green space north of the building, width of the lot and
>>     approximately 30 feet wide.
>> 11. patio with seating outside of retail spaces
>> 12. No development incentives were requested from the city
>> 13. First development to use SMART code
>> 14. intended to attract student tenants
>>
>> City staff worked with them to understand and follow the SMART code, 
>> they praised the staff support.  The reduced number of parking spaces 
>> is allowable under the SMART code.  They were aware of current 
>> apartment market in Lawrence, and believed they would find tenants 
>> for their apartments.  The described the apartments as "market 
>> priced", meaning neither affordable nor luxury housing, but somewhere 
>> between.  They hope to attract a restaurant as part of the retail 
>> mix.  They were obviously excited about the project, their company's 
>> first in Lawrence.
>>
>> My thoughts: I liked the design of the building, it reflects many of 
>> the priorities of the SMART code, including green space,parking 
>> beside and behind the building rather than on 23rd, support for 
>> active transportation, higher density infill, and ecological 
>> sensitivity.  I am somewhat concerned about the limited parking, but 
>> agree with them that bus, walking, and biking access to campus is 
>> excellent and should help reduce the number of cars. The project does 
>> not address one priority of the SMART code; it does not provide any 
>> affordable housing. I am impressed with this group. They seem to 
>> share our city's vision for future development based on Plan 2040. 
>> They will present the project to the City Commission for a vote on 
>> next Tuesday, March 5.
>>
>> On a related note, the LiveWell Healthy Built Environments workgroup 
>> and other groups have been urging the city to build a 10 ft. 
>> multi-use path along Naismith from 19th to 23rd, creating a 
>> continuous 10 ft. path from campus to the Lawrence Loop south of 
>> 31st. This redevelopment project would greatly benefit from this low 
>> stress, off road path to campus.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Gary Webber
>>
>>
>> On 3/1/2019 11:50 AM, Robert Sands wrote:
>>> How did the meeting go?  I wanted to be there but Wednesday evening 
>>> was pretty busy for me.  Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> On Sun, Feb 24, 2019 at 7:18 PM Gary Webber via Electronic-lan 
>>> <electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu <mailto:electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu>> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>     Dear LAN listserve members,
>>>     The group behind a  mixed-use apartment/retail development on
>>>     23rd Street just west of Natural Grocers has reached out to us
>>>     and would like to help us understand their project and give us a
>>>     chance to comment. Patrick Watkins with Foxtail Real Estate
>>>     <https://livewelllawrence.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d8f1d62c09b5db34590f34b0a&id=edbfbe29f1&e=2b79d39a08>
>>>     is representing The OPUS Group
>>>     <https://livewelllawrence.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d8f1d62c09b5db34590f34b0a&id=8334a0e2a2&e=2b79d39a08>,
>>>     a Minneapolis development group..  He is hopeful that one or two
>>>     of the project managers will attend, but if not he will lead the
>>>     meeting.  The OPUS Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, but
>>>     also has an office in Kansas City. Here is a Town Talk article
>>>     about the project.
>>>     <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ljworld.com%2Fweblogs%2Ftown_talk%2F2019%2Fjan%2F25%2Fmultistory-apartment-and-retail-building-planned-for-23rd-street-shopping-center-to-be-razed%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C37c3771f4d2441c6827108d69f63ff77%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636871649176609515&sdata=gwkT%2BK%2BXvBLUsBGgVl0zG5nDE4%2BkqLBGbf91JI%2Flw8s%3D&reserved=0>
>>>     Here is Patrick's introduction of the project:
>>>
>>>     /We have introduced a mixed-use student housing project just to
>>>     the west of Natural Grocers near the 23rd and Naismith
>>>     intersection.  The building will have around 300 beds and over
>>>     8,000 square feet of new retail space, along with a range of
>>>     amenities for the residents and patrons.  It's the first
>>>     development project to utilize the City's Smart Code, which
>>>     emphasizes mixed uses, integration with multi-modal
>>>     transportation, and a more traditional neighborhood design. 
>>>     With the bus stop, trail system, and evolving 23rd Street
>>>     Corridor, we think this alternate code makes for a nice fit on
>>>     this property.  We think this project will make a meaningful
>>>     contribution to having a physically active demographic along
>>>     this corridor - and would certainly appreciate your support./
>>>
>>>     This is the first time that the City has used its SMART code for
>>>     a development project.*We will meet with Patrick at 4:00 p.m. on
>>>     Wednesday, February 27, in Meeting Room A of the Public
>>>     Library.* I hope you will be able to attend!
>>>     Best,
>>>     Gary Webber
>>>     LAN Secretary
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>>     Electronic-lan mailing list
>>>     Electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu <mailto:Electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu>
>>>     https://lists.ku.edu/listinfo/electronic-lan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Rob Sands
>>> C 913-707-3953
>>> robert.c.sands at gmail.com <mailto:robert.c.sands at gmail.com>
>>
>>
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