Roughly 30-35 people ( a surprisingly light crowd) attended a meeting at Decatur City Hall to hear and discuss the modified plans of the developer. Otis White facilitated the meeting.
The plans have been scaled down. The building facing Ponce has been removed. No parking variance is now required. The revised plans can be downloaded from the Livable Growth site. Here's a couple of elevation images:
See a plan image in the continuation.
While some concerns of neighbors in bordering houses and 335 W Ponce have been addressed, some still remain.
Scott Schlosser of JLB reviewed the revised JLB plans, which are already filed with the City of Decatur for the 12/15 hearing, and cannot be changed before then.
In the Otober workshop, 223 units were proposed. That has been cut down to 160 units, with the elimination of the buidling facing W. Ponce. He said that was a low as they could go and still have a vialble project.
Scott says the density is now well under the Zone C2 requirement, which is 70 units per acre.
But, he was unable to specify the total acerage of the footprint of the new development. (he said he'd have that number by the 12/15 hearing).
The sats are 32.39 units/acre if you use the total 4.93 acres, but is that the correct may to measure it?
As viewed from the homes on Montgomery, the units build up in stair-step fashion, with relative elevations of 37, 47.8, an 57.4 ft.
96 units (60%) are 1 BR. 64 (40%) are two BR.
The average floor space is 925 sq. ft.
They will be built to "condo quality" but will be initially rented. Rental cost will be $1400-1700 per month.
The fronts facing Montgomery will be brick and some stucco.
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At this point, Otis White introduced Patty Rodgers and Jennifer, who represent the views of the neighbors in the houses.
Patty likes the reduction of units, but still has a few issues. She's still not too happy with the height of the units across the street from Montgomery.
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Jennifer then spoke.
She was glad the building facing W. Ponce has been deleted, but is concerned with what Day Properties might do with that later. She doesn't want to see an 8-story hotel there later.
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Some comments later in the meeting:
The units on the lower level will have 10' ceilings. Units highr will have 9' ceilings.
If JLB went to 6 stories in the center, they would have to go to a cost-prohibitive conscrete-based constructiion technique.
Currrent plans are for parking to be unreserved. If a single guy has a sports car and a pickup and a jeep, he's free to tie up one space 24-7.
The average cost is $1.57/sq. ft. It's geared toward young Emory Corridor professionals.
The current plan has no parking on the South Side of Montgomery.
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Otis White (saying his mission was to make sure everyone was heard) encouraged those who had other alternatives to gather around the tear sheets in the back and develop their position for presentation in the 12/15 hearing. Those living in 335 W. Ponce said they were already organized.
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Next step: The 12/15 hearing. If you have an opinion, you'd best be there, and be ready. The developers want an answer, one way or the other, before the end of the year, and they'll like get one on 12/15.
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