Published: December 31, 2008 08:41 am      

Condominium plans moving forward

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Work on a condominium community for the extended South Water Tower Place between 34th and 42nd Streets is moving forward as owner Brian Edmison has petitioned the city to change the zoning in the area from single family residential to multi-family residential.

In February 2007, Edmison presented his plans for building Renaissance Hills with partner David Fields. The homes were announced as market value homes from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet, with both four, three and two-unit buildings with attached two-car garages. the first round of construction was to include 24 units with more to follow. Edmison said the homes would cost about $150,000 based on market rate.

In May the project started moving forward with the approval by the city council of an agreement with Edmison for the building of South Water Tower Drive to connect 42nd and 34th streets. Under terms of the agreement, Edmison turned over the deed for 10 acres of land and contributed $56,874.33 toward the paving of the road. The city is required to construct the roadway in addition to curbs and gutters at an estimated cost of $54,000.

At the time the agreement was approved, Edmison again spoke of his plans to build 66 housing units along the new roadway near 34th Street, using a four-phase building project. Edmison said he hopes the city will use a portion of the 10 acres he deeded for a park area.

According to the application to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Edmison said the present zoning of the property is R1, or single family residential. The proposed zoning would be R3, or multi-family residential.

The purpose of the zoning change would be “to construct multi-family residence in an area suitable for such development,” the application states. “[The] site [is] adjacent to R3 zoning to the south.”

In addition, the application states that circumstances justifying the change in zoning are that “site conditions require significant economic contributions precluding low density residential development.”

The application will be reviewed by the commission during its meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 12.