Opponents of the now-shelved 322-unit housing complex successfully argued that the surrounding neighborhood is seeing too much change too fast — with other major development already underway.
In an 8-7 vote last week, the city council denied developer Core Spaces the necessary zone change to build its preferred design. But Richard Young with CivicLex says that may not be the end of the story.
"It's also important to note that demolition permits have been filed and are on hold with the city for these properties," Young says. "Under the current zoning, developers could demolish the properties and build new buildings that (are) about half as high as the one in the proposed developments. So just because the eight-story building is not going to be developed there doesn't mean there won't be a new building there in the future."
And that could happen without any additional public comment.
Backers of the development argue it's ideally placed to serve both the campus and downtown communities. They also say, if the city is to meaningfully address its housing shortage without expanding into rural areas, new housing will have to be developed inside the city's core.