Mike Moidel, project manager, C. J. Betters Enterprises, has attended neighborhood meetings to gain input and to hear concerns about the company’s proposed plans to build a condominium complex on six lots on the 1600 block of Grandview Avenue.
The project was the only agenda item discussed at the forum session of the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation held on Dec. 21.
How successful were the meetings in informing the public and addressing their concerns?
It depends on whom you ask.
Ron Yingling, of Fingal St., who lives near the proposed project, said he felt frustrated because his questions were not answered. “They did a lot of dancing.”
Chuck DiPasquale and Gretchen Braidic, who also live nearby, are more upbeat about the proposal.
“There’s blight that exists on the property now,” Mr. DiPasquale said. “We’d want a good, solid development that would be successful. We’d back it and be willing to compromise on style and height. There’s vacant houses there now with broken windows and a rodent problem. We’re anxious to see a sound plan and we’d tend to get behind it.”
“I had several conversations with Chuck Betters,” said Frank Valenta, vice president, MWCDC at its Dec. 21 meeting. He said that the developer seemed reasonable in his intentions.
However, the “height issue” and the losing of the view along Grandview Avenue was still a concern among local residents.
On Nov. 16 the Betters company requested a variance from the Zoning Board so as to exceed the 40-foot height limit required by the Grandview Public Realm B zoning. The variance would permit height of buildings between 40 and 100 feet if approval is also given by the planning commission. Another stipulation of GPR-B is that the project has to be within 500 feet of another project that is more than 40 feet high.
The two existing homes on the site would be torn down.
Mr. Valenta gave the more than 25 attendees, some MWCDC members and others concerned neighbors, an update of what has happened with the project so far.
He said a neighborhood meeting was held a week before the Nov. 16 zoning hearing. “It was just among ourselves.”
At this point he accidentally misspoke and corrected himself, saying “The trouble is that I’m still in shock about where the casino is going to go. I was so sure it was going to go to Station Square.”
He said testimony at the zoning hearing lasted an hour and 15 minutes. He said the board asked the developer to meet with the neighbors. That meeting occurred on Dec. 18 and the residents commented on what they liked and didn’t like about the design. The developer has not yet responded regarding how or whether he’d be willing to change his plans.
Mr. Yingling said he did not know how much parking would be required and Paul Tellers, MWCDC board president, said he thought Mr. Moidel could answer that.
There would be three spaces for each condominium unit or 36 spaces, said Mr. Moidel, who otherwise remained silent during the MWCDC forum meeting.
The project is not a “done deal” yet. The company will again confer with the residents. The zoning board still has to vote on approval of the variance. Then MWCDC will hold another public meeting and the project goes to the planning commission and council for approval.