Downtown affordable housing project requests $550,000 from city housing trust fund; proposed designs also updated | News, Sports, Jobs
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photograph by: H2B Architects

Up to date renderings clearly show the west facet of the proposed New Hampshire Road Lofts venture.

Plans keep on to build for an inexpensive housing venture on a extensive-vacant great deal on the south conclude of New Hampshire Street in downtown Lawrence, which includes design and style updates and funding requests.
The developer for the New Hampshire Avenue Lofts venture up to date layouts for the developing this spring to align with downtown prerequisites, and recently submitted an software for a $550,000 grant from the city’s Economical Housing Have confidence in Fund. More economic incentive requests are forthcoming.
Ideas had been submitted at Lawrence City Hall in January to build the vacant lot in the 1000 block of New Hampshire with a four-tale setting up. Those people preliminary filings known as for flats on the higher floors and do the job-dwell models on the floor floor, which means a business owner could run a shop in the front 50 % of the space and dwell in the back again fifty percent. Architecturally, all those styles were being extremely related to the current apartment developing that the developer, Tony Krsnich, created in the Warehouse Arts District that is east of downtown, which consisted of a easy style and design of brick and cement panels.
image by: Courtesy: H2B Architects/Metropolis of Lawrence
First plans filed with City Corridor in January clearly show the proposed layout of the New Hampshire Street Lofts challenge, proposed for the 1000 block of New Hampshire Road. The heart portion of the creating is lobby, although residences occupy the leading 3 flooring and live-get the job done areas occupy the ground flooring.
That layout did not meet up with downtown expectations, and the Historic Resources Fee subsequently referred the job to its architectural overview committee to function with the developer on design choices that would satisfy the city’s historic preservation requirements and downtown style recommendations. As the Journal-Earth documented, the committee known as for numerous variations to the look of the constructing and some modifications to mitigate the building’s effect on the historic environs of the space, such as the historic English Lutheran Church right south of the proposed project.
The updated ideas get in touch with for the use of brick, stone, and cement panels on the outside of the constructing, as well as extra architectural element, these types of as stone windowsills and cornices. The building also “steps down” from four stories to three subsequent to the church, with elevated eco-friendly area between that part of the constructing and the church. A circle push all over the making was removed and angled parking was included together New Hampshire Avenue. Professional storefronts had been also included on the west facet of the ground amount, which is the side that faces New Hampshire Avenue. Historic Means Administrator Lynne Braddock Zollner stated the HRC has authorised the new design and style, and the only superb item is the closing making materials range, such as shade.
Although not asked for by the architectural evaluate committee, the up-to-date strategies also clear away the perform-reside units on the floor ground and as a substitute get in touch with for 15,000 sq. feet of business room. The upper floors will dwelling 48 flats that will keep on being hire-controlled for 30 yrs as section of a federal very affordable housing program. The plans call for the apartments to consist of 6 studios, 35 one particular-bedroom flats, 6 two-bedroom apartments and 1 three-bed room condominium.
The developer not long ago requested a $550,000 grant from the city’s economical housing believe in fund, and the city’s Very affordable Housing Advisory Board reviewed the request earlier this thirty day period. In a letter to the board bundled with the application, Krsnich states the owner will spouse with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority and other nearby companies and will acknowledge housing vouchers. The letter also notes that the task programs to request other city economic incentives, specifically a assets tax rebate and a sales tax waiver on design supplies.
The Affordable Housing Advisory Board experienced not yet opened its funding application at the time of the request, but Krsnich instructed the board the timing of his software was centered on the timeline linked with his software for state tax credits for the job. Even though the board expressed aid for the task, customers voted on July 11 to deny the request for a funding award exterior the board’s usual cycle and as an alternative advised that Krsnich wait right until the next application opens.
The city’s trust fund currently has $175,000 available and the metropolis estimates an more $1.2 million will be accessible future calendar year. Many board customers stated they desired the ask for to be evaluated alongside other requests for the 2023 funding. The Lawrence Town Fee accepted the board’s most current funding software on July 19, and purposes for the 2023 funding are due by Sept. 23. AHAB will make its funding suggestions on Nov. 14, and they will be considered by the Metropolis Fee on Dec. 6, in accordance to the projected timeline.
As far as other approvals go, Arranging and Advancement Director Jeff Crick said that at this time no other advancement applications have been submitted relevant to the task. Crick claimed he expected that some development review apps would be required, at bare minimum a platting software and most likely a specific use allow, but that would count on the takes advantage of proposed for the creating.
As the Journal-Earth has noted, the New Hampshire Street Lofts undertaking is part of a larger sized redevelopment challenge in that area of downtown. Krsnich signed a deal that provides him redevelopment legal rights to the entire chunk of Allen Push properties on the south conclude of downtown. This New Hampshire Street job is the to start with aspect of what Krsnich envisions for the place. Krsnich states in the letter to AHAB that the New Hampshire Street Lofts project will function as a catalyst for the growth of the larger Allen Press house.





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