The site plan proposes to demolish the existing buildings on the site and construct a new building with 18,000 square feet of ground floor retail facing East Diamond Avenue with four levels of residential units above. The 389-unit break down is as follows:
- 194 one-bedroom units
- 195 two-bedroom units
The development will have three internal courtyards, one of which will have open access to the public during the daytime. The first level space provides the flexibility to be used either as residential or restaurant. The use of arcades, canopies, and wide sidewalks, creates a “Main Street” feel that was a main goal of the Olde Towne Master Plan. While the retail space does not extend the length of the project along East Diamond Avenue, there is an adequate amount of frontage devoted to retail space that will provide a lively streetscape. On-street parallel parking is also being proposed along East Diamond Avenue and Teacher’s Way.
There will be a parking garage that will serve the retail and residential uses of the project. Residents of the apartments will be able to park on the floor of their unit. Security measures will be put in place to ensure no outside visitors can access the interior levels of the apartments. The ground floor of the parking garage will serve the patrons of the ground floor establishments and provide for resident parking as well. Vehicular access to garage will only be provided from the proposed Teacher’s Way.
Wider sidewalks are proposed along East Diamond Avenue, which will feature a decorative scored concrete paving, ornamental street lights, and street trees. Along this frontage, the applicant is proposing several fountains and other hardscape elements that will engage patrons at the pedestrian level. An abundance of landscaping surrounds the perimeter of the building between the edges of the streets and the sidewalks, which help create a buffer for the street edge.
