HOUSING CHANGES SENT BACK
The student housing — not to be confused with a recent controversial project near Pralltown — stands six stories and would house 238 units, with a portion along Stone Street. But the differences between the preliminary design and the proposed final design brought to the commission drew negative responses from some commission members, including Graham Pohl.
"This feels to me like a bait and switch situation," he said.
Pohl raised numerous complaints about the new design, pointing to elements from window sizes to an overall simplification of the original, more varied concept. Michael Apt with Gilbane Development said some changes were necessary due to issues raised by utilities.
"When we were meeting with the utilities company, KU said they had to put a 20-foot easement along Stone Ave, so we pushed the building back."
Developers are now set to return to the commission with an altered design on January 16.
AFFORDABLE SUBDIVISION HEADS TO COUNCIL
The project — bringing 26 homes, 29 townhomes, 179 apartment units, and a senior living facility to the Radcliffe-Marlboro area — won approval from the commission, but not before supporters and concerned neighborhood residents made their cases before the body.
"Oftentimes, when the term affordable is mentioned... it has been demonized," said P.G. Peeples, known for his long service with the Urban League.
But residents flagged a number of issues, ranging from worries about increased traffic to changes in the character of the neighborhood.
"We would like to have our houses look like our houses, our homes," one resident said.
The panel's unanimous approval of the required zone changes aren't the last step, however. Now the matter goes before the Urban County Council. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the date for that vote has not been scheduled.