City aldermen are being asked this week to approve another amendment to a master development agreement between the city and Lansing Melbourne Group — the developer looking to place mixed-use, mixed-income apartments at the Pearl Street and Hartnett parking lots — pushing out the start dates for both projects.
The current agreement anticipates that construction for the Pearl Street Lot would begin on Nov. 22, with shovels in the ground for the Hartnett Lot project on Nov. 22, 2024.
The latest proposed change to the agreement would push out the anticipated start of construction for the parking garage and larger apartment building on the Pearl Street Lot to June 30, 2024, and the start date for the smaller apartment building on the Pearl Street Lot and the building on the Hartnett Lot to June 30, 2025.
In a memo to members of the Aldermanic Committee on Lands and Buildings, City Planner Jeffrey Belanger recommends granting the extensions, saying the reason behind them involves the “complexity of these projects.”
“There has been significant progress made in design and financing, and the proposed development on the Pearl Street Lot has received approvals from the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board,” Belanger writes. “Nonetheless, the scope of the projects has required more time than the City and LMG initially anticipated. Extending the timeframes for construction would allow both parties to proceed more deliberately.”
Belanger writes one benefit of postponing construction to the spring would be that the Pearl Street Lot would become available through the winter for use during snow emergencies. Another reason would be to more accurately reflect the number of dwelling units proposed on the Pearl Street Lot, Belanger suggests. In March, the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a variance allowing up to 366 dwelling units on the Pearl Street Lot.
“This would allow the larger apartment building on the lot to increase its number of units from the 290 units stated in the first amendment to approximately 320 units,” Belanger writes.
Aldermen previously voted to sign an agreement with the Florida-based developer to build apartments on the two underused, city-owned downtown parking lots.
Lansing Melbourne Group will pay the city $554,000 for the two lots, according to the terms of the agreement. Under the plan, the city will own and manage a parking garage on Pearl Street.
The company developed the Tru by Hilton hotel project on Spring Street and the SNHU parking garage near Delta Dental Stadium.
Under the terms of the deal, Lansing Melbourne will develop a 366-unit building on nearly 3 acres, where a maximum of 249 units is allowed in the Central Business District. An attached parking garage will include 540 parking spaces and 114 parking spaces underneath the building, according to plans.
Of the 366 units, 254 will be market rate and 60 for workforce housing. Neighborworks will provide 52 affordable units.
The 52 affordable units will be along Orange Street, according to the plans.
A parking garage with 540 spots located between the two buildings will be managed by the city. An additional 114 parking spaces will be available beneath the building, according to the plans.
Amenities will include a courtyard, clubhouse space and possibly co-working space. Pet services are also anticipated.
Members of the the Aldermanic Committee on Lands and Buildings will discuss the request Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
