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

Sun Mar 3 15:33:58 CST 2019

Gary,
Thank you very much for your summary!

On Fri, Mar 1, 2019 at 3:38 PM Gary Webber via Electronic-lan <
electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu> 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> 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%7C1176e28764034569dd6408d6a01ff918%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636872456516101261&sdata=yAG3s1venBMA3XkLSug47ERBer8a896eWDAQ94Z37GM%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
>> https://lists.ku.edu/listinfo/electronic-lan
>>
>
>
> --
> Rob Sands
> C 913-707-3953
> robert.c.sands at gmail.com
>
>
>
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>

-- 
Rob Sands
C 913-707-3953
robert.c.sands at gmail.com
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