Latest in a series of posts about the Southside 
More and more apartments. 74 this time. Peron Development at 600-block E. 3rd St. Complementing the “sister” apartments in their 510 Flats bldg.
But are they the “affordable” kind we need?
The planned office use for this property is being changed because of the success filling the apartments at 510 Flats.
Particularly striking Gadfly’s ear were, for parking, the use of the Polk Street Garage, a parking lot on Evans St., and 61 new metered parking spaces on 3rd St.
That’s 61 new metered parking spaces on 3rd St.
Planning Commission February 13:
506-510,600-630 E. 3RD Street—Revised Land Development Plan (Bldg.B) and Waiver Requests, Ward4, Zoned IRR, Plan dated July 15, 2014 and last revised January 22, 2020. The applicant proposes the removal of a parking lot on Lot B (610Flats) and the construction of a 5 story building containing first floor retail/restaurants and 74 apartments on the upper floors. The prior approved use of the upper floors was offices. The waiver/modifications requested pertain to minimum lot area requirements and off street parking requirements.
Here’s Peron describing why their success with 510 Flats changed plans for 610:
Here’s more detail on the variances required:
And specific discussion of the parking arrangements:
Adding more metered parking creates inconvenience and expense to short-term visitors to the NCC Fowler Center and even visitors to Charter Arts. Adding more meters is in large part necessary to pay for the huge boondoggle known as the Polk Street parking structure.
And adding more high-priced rentals increases the pressure towards gentrification and all the harm that does to lower income residents.