In this podcast: Jim Laschkewitsch, Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, joins IT2 to explain the compromise on the Newman Center project.
(Jim Laschkewitsch)
Read more below…
From KFGO News:
FARGO,N.D. (KFGO) – The controversial Newman Center housing project near the NDSU campus, at 12th Avenue North and University Drive will go forward . Last night, four of the five Fargo city commissioners voted to approve the project after a compromise was worked out between the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Roers Development, and St. Paul’s Catholic Newman Center. A super majority vote was required as residents in the neighborhood protested the original project.
The $40 million project includes a new Newman center, with a larger chapel, offices and faith based housing. Most neighbors accepted that but were opposed to a huge apartment building which would cover almost the entire block and require the demolition of a dozen houses.
Roers agreed to a number of changes to reach the compromise. Those include a reduction in the number of apartments from 132 to 109, lowering the height of the apartment building from six to four stories with one section down to three stories, adding additional town homes as a buffer to surrounding homes, adding additional parking, more green space and moving at least two historic homes to other locations.
Commissioner John Strand, who worked on the compromise and supported it, cited the on-going issues of development in core neighborhoods and why the city needs to make changes in the way such projects are allowed.
Ken Enockson of the neighborhood association, who helped negotiate the agreement, made it clear not everyone supports the compromise and told commissioners the city needs to listen to those concerns.
Commissioner Tony Gehrig cast the only no vote, citing the developers plan to seek tax breaks or other incentives for the project.
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