Notes and Next Steps on Proposed Changes to the MGE Project at 34th and Broadway (Official name Midtown Plaza development)
Aug. 18, 2021, Updated August 27, 2021
On August 9, architects from B&A Architecture requested a meeting with the Valentine Development Committee and interested board members to discuss proposed changes to the MGE project. Six neighborhood representatives attended the meeting including: Chris Jordan, Mary Jo Draper, Toby Barger, Ed Larson, Jim Martin and Kelley Martin.
The owner of the MGE development wants to increase density at the site in phase 3 and 4 of the project, based on changes in the market. This phase of the project calls for two apartment buildings for a total of 160 units to the built in the current parking lot between Broadway and Pennsylvania from 34th to 34th Terrace
The other change would be in the development of the area fronting Pennsylvania. It originally called for 20 townhomes, but the developer is now proposing to increase the number of units in this section by reducing the number of three-bedroom units and increasing the number of studio and one-bedroom apartments. This would be an addition of 20 or more units, allowing for 40-45 apartments in a three story building, one apartment per story. The plan calls for 218 parking stalls to serve both the middle apartment buildings and the Pennsylvania-fronting units. Both of these phases would be built at the same time.
Following a Aug. 16 Zoom meeting with B&A Architects, the Valentine Neighborhood representatives discussed what we had heard and came to agreement on the requests we have for the developer. These were preliminary reactions and the entire neighborhood will have a chance to review the changes and offer input at the Aug. 25 general meeting.
City requirements: Property tax incentives have already been granted for the entire project. The developer would need to go to the city for permission to amend the plan to make the changes along Pennsylvania. The developer hopes to reach an agreement with the neighborhood before going to the city.
Timeline:
- Mid-Sept. 2021: Rental begins on main building, on Broadway
- Spring of 2022: Phase 3 & 4 construction to begin
- On hold: phase 2, restaurant south of main building along Broadway
What the development committee said in August 2021
The following are the key points the development committee presented to the developer:
- We greatly appreciate that the developer has asked for neighborhood input before going to the city. This allows the neighborhood and developer to work together on a plan that is acceptable to both.
- We cannot really comment on the proposed changes until we see a street view of how the apartments will look along Pennsylvania. It is important to us that there is an interesting streetscape that does not look like the back of a building. As a neighborhood, we embrace front porches and buildings that face the street and present a welcoming view.
- We preferred the original design, which resembled the look of townhomes, over the new design, which looks more like apartments. We suggested that the three-story colonnade style apartment, which is prevalent in Valentine, could offer a model for design.
- We liked the original proposal because it called for owner-purchased townhomes. We recognize the market may not support this right now, but we would like to see the apartments built in a style that could be easily converted to townhomes or condos in the future.
What the development committee said in 2015
- We asked them to scale back the apartment units to medium density because we felt density too high.
- We wanted townhomes marketed as owner-occupied rather than rentals.
- We wanted the townhome phase moved to phase 2.
- We wanted design review of townhomes.
- We wanted a traffic study and traffic calming measures on Pennsylvania.
- We asked for free parking for residents and guests.
- Additional green space for tenants and possibly neighborhood, such as playground area.
Next Steps
The architects will present the changes at the Valentine general meeting on August 25 at 7 p.m. via zoom. They hope to be able to present a street view at this meeting. Neighborhood residents will have a chance to ask questions and offer comments. Following the presentation, we will ask the architects to leave and we will refine our neighborhood position.
Feedback from neighborhood on changes
Updated Aug. 27, 2021
Those at the general meeting mostly agreed with the comments made by the development committee earlier.Additional comments are from the general meeting are indicated in italics.
We greatly appreciate that the developer has asked for neighborhood input before going to the city. This allows the neighborhood and developer to work together on a plan that is acceptable to both.
- We preferred the original design, which resembled the look of townhomes, over the new design, which looks more like apartments. We suggested that the three-story colonnade style apartment, which is prevalent in Valentine, could offer a model for design. It is important to us that there is an interesting streetscape that does not look like the back of a building. As a neighborhood, we embrace front porches and buildings that face the street and present a welcoming view. Having been shown both the original designs and the new designs for the Pennsylvania Street apartments, some people preferred the previous design over the new one. In general, participants said they were not really crazy about the new design, saying it looked “cookie cutter” or trendy. They discussed the need for the row of apartments to fit within the context of the neighborhood and within the overall project. The consensus was that we would like to see addition design options for the building facing Pennsylvania.
- We liked the original proposal because it called for owner-purchased townhomes. We recognize the market may not support this right now, but we would like to see the apartments built in a style that could be easily converted to townhomes or condos in the future.
- Density: The neighborhood is generally not concerned about the increased density, although several people said they did have reservations.
The neighborhood requested the developers come back to them with additional design options and that we continue to work to find design that the neighborhood can wholeheartedly support.