Local developers look to build lofts near MetroLink
BY LISA P. WHITE
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE - A local group wants to build 42 loft-style condominiums on Sycamore Street near the Belleville MetroLink station off Scheel Street.
Metro Lofts spokesman Amy Melinder declined to give additional specifics about the project until developers meet with neighbors next week.
Architect Gary Karasek has applied for a special use permit to build the condos on empty lots at 925 and 930 Sycamore St. because the neighborhood is zoned single-family residential. The request was tabled at the last board of zoning appeals meeting and is scheduled to be heard again at the Aug. 25 meeting. Karasek directed all questions about the project to Melinder.
On the other side of the light-rail tracks, Indianapolis-based City Centre Associates plans to build 214 apartments, 23 townhomes and retail space on about 45 acres along Scheel Street from the Metro station to Lucinda Avenue. The redevelopment agreement between the city and the development is scheduled for a vote at the City Council meeting Monday.
In December, the City Council approved a non-binding letter of understanding with City Centre. It required the city to spend $5 million, including $2.2 million for infrastructure, $800,000 to relocate displaced residents and $1 million to acquire land and to provide $1 million in property tax rebates.
Bob and Karen Walta, who live across the street from the proposed Metro Lofts site, said they are concerned about the number of people the project would bring to the dead-end street and the impact they would have on the aging sewers and other infrastructure.
"Common sense is going to say traffic is a problem, utilities are a problem and population density, especially with that they're doing across the (tracks)," Bob Walta said.
City economic development and planning director Mike Malloy said the developers must still submit final plans.
"That's one of the things that they owe us, the preliminary plat and the improvement plans," Malloy said. "We have had discussions with them (about infrastructure), we're concerned about those issues too."
The Metro Lofts developers mailed notices about the neighborhood meeting to Sycamore Street residents and posted it on a bulletin board at City Hall. The notice includes a Web site address, but the site is still under construction.
The meeting with neighbors is Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Room 200 at the Nichols Community Center at 515 E. D St.
BY LISA P. WHITE
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE - A local group wants to build 42 loft-style condominiums on Sycamore Street near the Belleville MetroLink station off Scheel Street.
Metro Lofts spokesman Amy Melinder declined to give additional specifics about the project until developers meet with neighbors next week.
Architect Gary Karasek has applied for a special use permit to build the condos on empty lots at 925 and 930 Sycamore St. because the neighborhood is zoned single-family residential. The request was tabled at the last board of zoning appeals meeting and is scheduled to be heard again at the Aug. 25 meeting. Karasek directed all questions about the project to Melinder.
On the other side of the light-rail tracks, Indianapolis-based City Centre Associates plans to build 214 apartments, 23 townhomes and retail space on about 45 acres along Scheel Street from the Metro station to Lucinda Avenue. The redevelopment agreement between the city and the development is scheduled for a vote at the City Council meeting Monday.
In December, the City Council approved a non-binding letter of understanding with City Centre. It required the city to spend $5 million, including $2.2 million for infrastructure, $800,000 to relocate displaced residents and $1 million to acquire land and to provide $1 million in property tax rebates.
Bob and Karen Walta, who live across the street from the proposed Metro Lofts site, said they are concerned about the number of people the project would bring to the dead-end street and the impact they would have on the aging sewers and other infrastructure.
"Common sense is going to say traffic is a problem, utilities are a problem and population density, especially with that they're doing across the (tracks)," Bob Walta said.
City economic development and planning director Mike Malloy said the developers must still submit final plans.
"That's one of the things that they owe us, the preliminary plat and the improvement plans," Malloy said. "We have had discussions with them (about infrastructure), we're concerned about those issues too."
The Metro Lofts developers mailed notices about the neighborhood meeting to Sycamore Street residents and posted it on a bulletin board at City Hall. The notice includes a Web site address, but the site is still under construction.
The meeting with neighbors is Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Room 200 at the Nichols Community Center at 515 E. D St.
