Apartment Look

Supporters and opponents of a proposed conversion of the historic Campana building to affordable housing on the borders of Batavia and Geneva packed another meeting this week to share their views. About 100 people attended the continuation Wednesday of an Aug. 2 public hearing before the plan commission , a citizen- appointed advisory panel to the Batavia City Council . On one side were residents worried about traffic, the influx of students in the Geneva schools and whether the former 1936 factory is suitable for living quarters. On the other side were proponents of affordable housing and historic preservation . Evergreen Real Estate Group has submitted a zoning application with Batavia to put 80 market-rate and income restricted apartments into the 131,000-square-foot building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and received a local historic landmark designation in 2003. Sandra Ellis said the Fabyan Parkway and Route 31 intersection has been known as a...

Batavia residents continued to speak out about whether the city should let apartments be built in the landmark Campana factory building on Wednesday during a continuation of a plan commission public hearing . Just as it was when the hearing began on Aug. 2, the meeting room was filled, and an overflow was set up in a nearby conference room so people could watch it on television. Residents again expressed concern about adequate parking, whether stormwater displaced by increased parking would be well-handled, if the Geneva school district would get enough in property taxes to handle the influx of students expected, and about safety at the intersection of Fabyan Parkway and Batavia Avenue . Several more spoke about whether the building was even a suitable place to live. "Why was a housing project ever proposed for the Campana building ? It's not suitable for human habitation," said Guy Prisco of Batavia, citing the glass block windows an...

Christine Dunn Journal Staff Writer ChristineMDunn PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor on Thursday morning lauded a vote by the Rhode Island Housing Board of Commissioners to approve final financing for the Lippitt Mill Apartments development in West Warwick. The mill, the second-oldest in Rhode Island, will be reused as 65 apartments, including 28 affordable units , Eric Shorter of Rhode Island Housing told the board. The total project cost is $15.9 million, including $2.3 million in Rebuild RI tax credits . Developer Kristopher Shaw said there will be a groundbreaking this fall, and he hopes construction will be completed by next summer. Board member Kevin Orth said that in addition to providing needed mixed - income housing , the project includes the preservation of a site with "historical and cultural significance," and it will also accomplish environmental remediation of the property. Currently vacant and uninhabitable, the site requires freq...

Vail Resorts has proposed turning a large vacant parcel it owns in East Vail into open space and employee housing. East Vail Interstate 70 interchance and use the parcels for open space and employee housing." width="620" src="src" />Vail Resorts is proposing to split this piece of company- owned property ner the East Vail Interstate 70 interchance and use the parcels for open space and employee housing. The company owns a 23.3-acre piece of land north of the East Vail Interstate 70 interchange . That land is current zoned for two-family primary and secondary zoning — duplex units. The company wants to change that. In documents to be submitted Monday to the Vail Community Development Department , Vail Resorts is asking to subdivide and rezone the property. If approved, then about 17 acres would be converted to the town’s natural preservation zoning . The remaining land — about 6 acres — would be covered under the town’s housing zone. Vail Community Develo...

When Mayor de Blasio held a press conference in May 2014 to debut his new affordable housing plan , his full- color presentation touted a project called Spring Creek in Brooklyn. Spring Creek was flagged as a “case study” partnership between the city and developers to “create a strong, vibrant and self-sustaining neighborhood.” But on Friday, the bulk of that project remained a big, ugly vacant field of weeds and abandoned roadway in East New York. More than 1,500 of 1, 803 planned affordable units are now in a bureaucratic Twilight Zone — and may become less affordable as a result. “There is no progress from the progressive mayor ,” said the Rev. David Brawley, a leader of East Brooklyn Congregations , one of the groups sponsoring Spring Creek . Brawley said the delays to Spring Creek caused by the de Blasio administration are particularly ironic given that the mayor cited the project in his promise to build or preserve 200, 00...

Council Member Laurie Cumbo (@cmlauriecumbo) Hundreds of Crown Heights residents and community activists laughed and jeered at a recent community forum as a lanky man wearing a paper mask of Mayor Bill de Blasio joked about bringing affordable housing to their neighborhood. The event was punctuated by moments of levity but mostly dominated by anger from residents who feel their elected representatives have sold out their interests to the real estate industry , with a focus on the proposed redevelopment of the vacant Bedford Union Armory . The de Blasio administration , with a developer, is proposing a combination of affordable and market rate rental apartments , condominium units, and recreation space for the massive site. City Council Member Laurie Cumbo , who represents the district, did not attend the August 2 forum focused on the project -- she was just days from giving birth to a son -- and when representatives of her office tried to speak, they were shouted down. The ev...

Marquette Mayor Dave Campana introduces Snyder at a press meet after his tour of the apartments, and explains the importance of providing affordable housing in close proximity to the downtown area. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley) Marquette Mayor Dave Campana introduces Snyder at a press meet after his tour of the apartments, and explains the importance of providing affordable housing in close proximity to the downtown area. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley) Snyder speaks with Roger Curtis, Director of Talent and Economic Development for the State of Michigan outside of the Grandview Marquette , which is still undergoing construction. The apartments are intended to give low-income individuals in Marquette easier access to opportunities in the downtown area. The project is expected to be completed this fall. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley) MARQUETTE — Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials Wednesday morning toured the affordable housing development Grandview Marquette , whi...

KANE COUNTY, IL -- The fight continues over whether city officials in Batavia should move forward with the redevelopment of the historic Campana factory building . Those in support of the project contend the area needs housing for low-income workers and the 80- unit apartment complex would fill that need, the Kane County Chronicle reports . “By including affordable rental units in 80 percent of the Campana redevelopment project , approval of this project will help our communities meet the critical housing needs of our low-wage-earning, working citizens,” said Batavia resident Patti Lackman of the League. Those against the plan spoke up against whether apartments were the right fit for the historic building , the Daily Herald reports . "Why was a housing project ever proposed for the Campana building ? It's not suitable for human habitation," said Guy Prisco of Batavia. He cited the glass block windows and supports which would run down the center of the interior hallwa...

Developers this week signaled their formal intent to replace a parking lot next to the Mattapan Square trolley station with a two-building, 144-unit mixed- income development . In a letter to the BPDA, Preservation of Affordable Housing and Nuestra Comunidad Development Corp ., said the bulk of the $57-million project would be in one six- story building housing housing 135 apartments , from studios to three-bedrooms, with a mix of affordable and market-rate units.. A second, four- story building , planned for latter in development, would house nine condos. The two groups won development rights to the 2.6-acre parcel, which runs along River Street near the Mattapan High-Speed Line, from the MBTA. The project includes 50 parking spaces for T riders - and 70 for project residents - in an underground garage. By submitting the letter, they indicated they would file more detailed plans within two months. Letter of intent (973k PDF).

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The owner of downtown Cleveland's fourth-tallest building is doing an about-face, marketing the Tower at Erieview and the adjacent Galleria shopping mall for sale after more than a year of exploring a partial conversion of the skyscraper to apartments. RAIT Financial Trust recently put the buildings on the market, at an undisclosed price. A listing package from real estate company HFF , Inc., started making the rounds last week. The 40-story tower, at East 12 th Street and St. Clair Avenue, is only 45 percent leased, according to HFF's listing materials. The glassy, barrel- shaped Galleria is 60 percent leased. The property also includes a 421- space parking garage . Related: Oswald Centre, former Eaton Center hit the market RAIT's decision doesn't shut the door on a potential residential redevelopment of a third of the office space. But the listing throws the timeline for such a project into limbo - and signals that the Philadelphia- based company...

It’s served as a classroom annex for the former Lancaster Boys’ High School just around the corner. In 1909, part of it was converted into a basketball court for the school, “with the maximum cost of equipment not exceeding $25,” according to newspaper records. It was the home for Lancaster Bible College ’s precursor, Lancaster School of the Bible. It’s housed more than one church congregation — most recently, Foursquare Gospel Church . Standing solidly on North Mulberry Street , the square, pale yellow building looks over Shreiner-Concord Cemetery and Thaddeus Stevens’ gravesite. And it’s been a public hub of one kind or another in this west-end section of Lancaster city since it was built in 1880. Now, 128 N. Mulberry St. is gearing up for its newest incarnation: Four apartments carved out of cavernous church space . For Ben J. Cunningham, a Millersville University professor and part owner of the project, its been part investment, part neighborhood effort and a test of the crea...