34 replies to this topic

[Mith242]

strmchsr77, on 13 December 2011 - 08:36 AM, said:

This project continues to move forward.  The planning commission unanimously approved the first of the two high density residential complexes last night.  555 Maple was the first to come through and make it past the ridiculous height restrictions that are in place.  The restrictions limit the height of buildings in this area of downtown to either 56 feet or 4 stories, whichever is shorter.  The building will be 5 levels.  According to the developers the 5th level was needed to help recoup the high price of land in the downtown area.  

Article from NWAOnline:  http://www.nwaonline...wa-fayetteville

Certainly agree with you.  Just north of Eco Downtown is that big church and it's even uphill as well.  Just glad the city seems to be working with them so far.

[Trough]

I think these are a great idea, I've always wondered why it wasn't done sooner (Underwood and Legacy would have been a smashing success if they would have considered student living instead of luxury condos).

But there are some things to think about.

Will construction on this property be occurring at the same time the city will be re-doing the Maple and Lafayette bridges (which are in a very bad need of renovation)?

Also, the area around the future site(s) is a gigantic traffic bottleneck. Try getting there from anywhere the west, north, or south. The stretch on Gregg from Prospect to Dickson is the most dangerous street in Fayetteville. A one-lane bridge, a simultaneous railroad and bike/walk path crossing with a black chain link fence that inhibits sight, blind intersections (that should be four-way stops) because of the Maple and Lafayette bridges.  Wilson Ave. has been constructed to intentionally limit traffic. Try turning west onto Maple from Wilson during high traffic.

Walkability is a huge plus in that area, but people will still be driving to and from those apartments.

By the way, anyone remember what happen to the proposed plan to redo Gregg south of North Street?  The idea was to increase accessibility to Dickson/Downtown from Gregg/North/Garland.  Instead, the city laid down several speed bumps and put the bike trail where the new Gregg Ave. would have been.

[zman9810]

Trough, on 14 December 2011 - 08:52 PM, said:

I think these are a great idea, I've always wondered why it wasn't done sooner (Underwood and Legacy would have been a smashing success if they would have considered student living instead of luxury condos).

But there are some things to think about.

Will construction on this property be occurring at the same time the city will be re-doing the Maple and Lafayette bridges (which are in a very bad need of renovation)?

Also, the area around the future site(s) is a gigantic traffic bottleneck. Try getting there from anywhere the west, north, or south. The stretch on Gregg from Prospect to Dickson is the most dangerous street in Fayetteville. A one-lane bridge, a simultaneous railroad and bike/walk path crossing with a black chain link fence that inhibits sight, blind intersections (that should be four-way stops) because of the Maple and Lafayette bridges.  Wilson Ave. has been constructed to intentionally limit traffic. Try turning west onto Maple from Wilson during high traffic.

Walkability is a huge plus in that area, but people will still be driving to and from those apartments.

By the way, anyone remember what happen to the proposed plan to redo Gregg south of North Street?  The idea was to increase accessibility to Dickson/Downtown from Gregg/North/Garland.  Instead, the city laid down several speed bumps and put the bike trail where the new Gregg Ave. would have been.

The Maple /Wilson intersection  will have a traffic light and turn lanes paid for by the developers.


I think the redo of Gregg was fought so hard and became so expensive that it was put on the backburner. The residents around Wilson Park didn't want it coming through their neighborhood so it  seems to have died The idea behind these developments is that the residents (mostly students) will be primarily pedestrian. They may own cars but will keep them parked in garage most ofthe time. Not sure about the bridge renovations- i thought theywere planned for this year but seemed to have been put off.

Edited by zman9810, 15 December 2011 - 01:05 AM.

[aerotive]

"Instead, the city laid down several speed bumps and put the bike trail where the new Gregg Ave. would have been."

Those speed bumps & medians are really ineffective...a large majority of traffic is still cut-through, with many of those speeding.  Needs to either be a ban on through traffic or the roads and sidewalks should be upgraded.

[Mith242]

Eco Downtown was approved by the Planning Commission.  I got a bit of a chuckle out of reading an article about it in the newspaper.  It stated residents can expect to see another new addition to the city's skyline.  It almost makes it sounds like it's going to be some sort of decent sized mid-rise.  Although this was approved by the Planning Commission not the City Council yet.  But it would be surprising if the City Council doesn't approve this.  There will of course be some NIMBYism, but this development really addresses a lot of things in the City Plan 2030.  It's hard to imagine this not getting by the City Council.

[zman9810]

Mith242, on 10 January 2012 - 04:13 PM, said:

Eco Downtown was approved by the Planning Commission.  I got a bit of a chuckle out of reading an article about it in the newspaper.  It stated residents can expect to see another new addition to the city's skyline.  It almost makes it sounds like it's going to be some sort of decent sized mid-rise.  Although this was approved by the Planning Commission not the City Council yet.  But it would be surprising if the City Council doesn't approve this.  There will of course be some NIMBYism, but this development really addresses a lot of things in the City Plan 2030.  It's hard to imagine this not getting by the City Council.

Sounds like there was no opposition this time around so I agree that it should be clear saling.

Has anyone seen any renderings of what these buildings will look like? I meant to watch the meeting on tv but missed it- maybe it will run again.

[Mith242]

zman9810, on 11 January 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

Sounds like there was no opposition this time around so I agree that it should be clear saling.

Has anyone seen any renderings of what these buildings will look like? I meant to watch the meeting on tv but missed it- maybe it will run again.

I've also been very curious as to what these developments might look like.  But I haven't been able to find any renderings anywhere.  Somewhere I saw some sort of general outline but nothing really on what it would look like.  If I understand correctly it sounds like Modus Studios who also did the Eco Modern Flats development will be involved.  So maybe it might give us some sort of idea on what they might look like.
http://www.modusstud...ily-renovation/

[strmchsr77]

Demolition has started on the 555 Maple project according to a Fayetteville Flyer article.  I'm glad to see something going on to back up all of this talk and proposed projects.

Here is a link:  http://www.fayettevi...555-maple-site/

[zman9810]

Here's a link to the Fayetteville Flyer's article with renderings of 555 Maple. These look even better than I had hoped for. http://www.fayettevi...-maple-complex/

[wmr]

You know, when the downtown residential crash happened, meaning the several condo/apt projects that were planned were then scrapped, the university's population hadn't really entered the boom.

Seeing things like this make me wonder if we might see a resurrection of something like St. Charles Plaza down by the Post Office.  Maybe changed and revised into a rental property instead of condos....

I agree, though.  Those renderings are very nice.  I'm excited.

[Mith242]

Yes very nice renderings.  I'm really looking forward to this development.  I don't recall hearing anything about it but from the renderings it looks like there could be room for some retail space as well, especially on the West Ave side of the development.  Then maybe someone could finally do something with that old gas station across the street.  And I agree with you wmr, it would be interesting to see some sort of resurrection of the St Charles Plaza.  It's really not too far away.  Seems like it could very easily take advantage to it's proximity to the univeristy and Dickson St as well.

[Mith242]

wmr, on 04 April 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

You know, when the downtown residential crash happened, meaning the several condo/apt projects that were planned were then scrapped, the university's population hadn't really entered the boom.

Seeing things like this make me wonder if we might see a resurrection of something like St. Charles Plaza down by the Post Office.  Maybe changed and revised into a rental property instead of condos....

Actually, while just looking around on Modus Studio's website, I came across something called Collier Plaza and seems to be located around that same general area of the former St Charles Plaza idea.
http://www.modusstud.../collier-place/

An example of one of the renderings

[thewizard16]

The renderings of 555 Maple look great. That section of West has always seemed sad to me compared to the part near Dickson, and this will really spice that whole street up! I look forward to seeing it someday when it's finished.

[strmchsr77]

Construction continues on Sterling Frisco, which is now what 555 Maple is going to be called.

I also noticed that some fences had been set up in the parking lot of the old UBC SAC building.  I assume that will be coming down soon too so they can start the other housing complex.

[Mith242]

strmchsr77, on 25 May 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

Construction continues on Sterling Frisco, which is now what 555 Maple is going to be called.

I also noticed that some fences had been set up in the parking lot of the old UBC SAC building.  I assume that will be coming down soon too so they can start the other housing complex.

Interesting, I thought I had heard that 555 Maple was going to be called something else.  Not sure where I heard otherwise, but it will be Sterling Frisco.  I get the Frisco part.  Not sure where the Sterling comes from though.