73-unit apartment complex planned for Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A 73-unit, four floor apartment building is planned for Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood.

On Aug. 10, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved three variances to Strong Tower Development for various aspects of the proposed building, located in a block of land between 2138 and 2214 Portage St. The development is intended to be a senior housing project, featuring a leasing office, corporate office space and amenities like a community room and fitness area.

This building is planned to contain five market rate units and 68 subsidized public housing units reserved for seniors to relocate from the nearby Heritage Community complex. All units will be single-bedroom apartments, with a bathroom, kitchen, dining room and living room.

The building will also have a rooftop terrace and garden. Construction is likely to begin in spring 2018 and finish by summer 2019.

The project is in a CN-1, commercial neighborhood district, which requires commercial and retail uses on the ground floor, and prohibits buildings taller than 35 feet. Variances were sought to allow units on the first floor of a 45-foot-tall building, have fewer off-street parking spaces than required, and relocate five nonconforming billboards on the property.

The city's zoning ordinance requires a minimum of 1.5 off-street parking spaces per housing unit; 110 for the proposed development. The variance allows the developer to have only 92 off-street parking spaces -- 73 for residents and 19 for office employees and visitors.

Mike Flynn, vice president of architectural firm Byce & Associates, said additional parking spaces will be sought, but the 92 spots will "more than meet" the needs of the tenants. Developers sought the variance because parking space is limited in the middle of the block on Portage Street.

Flynn said a variance to build elevated support structures for five nonconforming Adams Outdoor billboards on the property failed.

Adams Outdoor has an easement on the property but is not allowed to structurally alter the billboards, except to make it conform with zoning ordinances.

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