Saturday, April 14, 2007

A1: "Preservation commission OKs building"

Yesterday I mentioned higher-density mixed-use development as a generally good thing, and here we have an example of what looks like a couple of appropriate infill projects that will fix a mistake Prescott made a long time ago, putting gas stations on the south corners of Montezuma and Sheldon.

Show some love for Cindy Barks, who gets to sit through all the boring public meetings to try and glean something like news out of them, and puts above-average craft into her copy despite the dry subjects.

One question, though, Cindy: Where will residents park those 20 or so cars? I'll guess there's a plan for a garage on the alley side, but I'd like to see it in the story.

4 comments:

leftturnclyde said...

Ya know, High density housing is not 12 upscale condo's..this is more like " Hi, Ive got a lotta money sell me an apartment" housing. And Steve I will bet that the parking issue has not even come up since the majority of the struggle seemed to be about how tall the building would be. how bout it cindy ,am I wrong?

Steven Ayres said...

I wrote 'higher-density,' meaning relative to other nearby residential, and that's single-family homes that are getting very expensive downtown. I think it unlikely we'll ever see affordable housing in new buildings on the Square, that's a lot to expect, but any new mixed-use building down there is better than the alternative in many ways.

Granny J said...

Great idea... but will they sell? There are still 2 condos for sale at that other new building on Gurley ... and I note several empty 2nd floors above downtown businesses...

Steven Ayres said...

The empty space above ground on the square is at best run-down and generally uninhabitable. I think it would be great if this became available as living space, and I expect that the economic benefits of that is becoming clearer to downtown landlords. I'm sure it's not about a lack of demand.