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<p><font size="+1"><font face="Calibri"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/town_talk/2017/sep/7/large-student-housing-company-floating-p/">http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/town_talk/2017/sep/7/large-student-housing-company-floating-p/</a>
(link includes graphics)</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Calibri">Large student housing
company floating plans for big apartment complex in south
Lawrence<br>
<br>
Posted by Chad Lawhorn<br>
September 7, 2017 at 11:21 a.m.<br>
<br>
Get ready for more students near one of the busiest
intersections in Lawrence. A Rhode Island-based company is
seriously considering building a major new apartment complex
near the Clinton Parkway and Iowa Street intersection.<br>
<br>
An entity called Gilbane Development Co. has begun talking
with neighbors about a plan to build an apartment complex on
largely vacant land at the southwest corner of Clinton Parkway
and Crestline Drive. That intersection is basically one block
west of the busy Clinton Parkway/23rd Street and Iowa Street
intersection.<br>
<br>
Gilbane hasn’t yet filed plans with City Hall for the project,
but it has presented a conceptual site plan to neighbors. That
plan calls for two three-story buildings that would have about
220 apartment units. I’m waiting to hear back from Gilbane
officials, but in talking with neighbors, it sounds like the
apartment complex would have about 500 bedrooms. The site plan
seems to indicate that as well. The parking lot for the
project has 532 spaces.<br>
<br>
Neighbors also tell me that the project would be geared for
university students. That would be consistent with Gilbane’s
past projects. According to its website, the company has built
more than 4,000 student housing beds in the last five years.<br>
<br>
The site plan shows the two three-story buildings, a clubhouse
on the ground floor of one of the buildings and a pair of
plazas, with one including an outdoor pool, and the other
seemingly having some sports courts and other such amenities.<br>
<br>
The plans, however, have a major quirk. The southwest corner
of Clinton Parkway and Crestline is largely vacant but not
entirely vacant. There is a commercial building that houses
the day care business Lawrence Child Development Center.<br>
<br>
Teresa Prost, the owner of the center, told me the apartment
developers don’t currently plan to buy her property but rather
plan to build one of the apartment buildings on the north side
of her day care and another apartment building on the south
side of the day care. It is a plan she doesn’t like.<br>
<br>
“It feels like the big fish is eating the little fish,” she
said.<br>
<br>
Prost said the day care includes an outdoor playground that
would back up to the student apartment complex.<br>
<br>
“We would be right in the center,” Prost said. “That is
something we want to talk about with them. With balconies,
there would be these apartments that would be looking at
children playing.”<br>
<br>
Prost said she’s open to the development group buying her
property or relocating the day care to another part of the
site that would be more isolated from the apartment
development.<br>
<br>
I’ve got a call into Gilbane officials, but I haven’t yet
heard back. If I get additional information from the company,
I’ll pass it along.</font></font><br>
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