Santa Rosa downtown apartment project considered much too tall, heads to Town Council on appeal

Builders powering a new undertaking that would incorporate 24 flats earlier mentioned office house in downtown Santa Rosa are inquiring the City Council to override objections that the proposed five-story undertaking is too tall for its area.

Even though Santa Rosa has sought to entice infill projects that add far more housing downtown, even loosening top boundaries, The Flats development introduced ahead by two local firms, ArchiLogix and the Morris Karsten Group, was denied acceptance by the city’s Cultural Heritage Board last thirty day period. The board observed it was one particular story too tall for where by it would exist at 528 B Street, just south of the Brew cafe.

Neighborhood opponents and some on the board reported a five-story making was as well tall for the historic St. Rose neighborhood, even though it would be inside Santa Rosa’s top boundaries.

But for Peter Stanley, principal of Santa Rosa architecture organization ArchiLogix and a co-developer of the job, dropping the building down to four tales would necessarily mean shedding a quarter of the residences, a loss of revenue that can make the project unfeasible.

“That’s a big hit,” Stanley stated. “If we could have completed that, we would have.”

The project is estimated to charge $10 million to $12 million, Stanley explained. After the challenge is full, ArchiLogix would move into the ground flooring of The Flats with co-developer MKG Investing, which currently operates in the solitary-tale developing that occupies the web page.

Earlier mentioned the industrial area would be four floors with two dozen market-price one- and two-bed room apartments. All parking would be located in a close by town garage, in accordance to preparing files.

The undertaking, which has been in the operates considering the fact that at the very least January 2019, is issue to additional scrutiny because of to its locale within just the St. Rose historic district. It went right before both of those the Structure Review Board and the Cultural Heritage Board on Nov. 23 for a virtual hearing.

The layout board overwhelmingly supported the project, with some requests to consider a handful of aesthetic alterations. But the Cultural Heritage Board rendered a split choice that correctly turned down two vital setting up approvals for the job. Some heritage board associates reported the setting up was as well tall and a misfit for the area, regardless of Santa Rosa’s have to have for housing.

“The building is just really, seriously significant, and it is definitely, definitely large,” mentioned Brian Meuser, who chairs the Cultural Heritage Board. “I just just cannot definitely support the five stories, as considerably as becoming appropriate with the historic community.”

A joint vote to approve the project’s layout failed for absence of guidance from the heritage board users, and a different vote on a landmark alteration permit taken just by the 7-member Cultural Heritage Board failed, with two votes in favor, Meuser and another member voting no, two associates abstaining and one seat vacant.

Stanley expressed optimism about the appeal to the City Council, noting that he and progress husband or wife Tom Karsten of MKG Investing both equally experienced encounter serving on the city’s Scheduling Commission and have been acquainted with the city’s rules and guidelines.

“My expectation is that the city would adhere to its own guidelines and go ahead with this job,” Stanley explained.

Strategies for The Flats call for breaking floor in late spring or early summer time if the attraction succeeds, with design finished approximately 14 months later, Stanley reported. Rents stay unfamiliar due to the uncertainty in excess of the ultimate expense of the job, he claimed.

You can access Staff Writer Will Schmitt at 707-521-5207 or [email protected]. On Twitter @wsreports.