City Beat: Council hears apartment complex, funeral home plans

Despite a surge in new apartment construction last summer, developers are continuing to build. Nearly 1,000 new rental units worth about $50 million are to be completed by the end of 2003, according to a Nov. 11, 2002, SBJ story.

City Council listened to proposals for two new apartment developments at its July 14 meeting. Only one passed through the public hearing process, however.

Council stopped a proposal for 600 apartment units in the 2900 block of West Republic Road, as Councilman John Wylie motioned to send the plan back to Planning and Zoning for further review. The motion was approved 7-1; Councilman Gary Deaver was absent.

Several neighbors opposed the bill on the grounds that the meeting was their first opportunity to hear of the plans.

"My biggest concern is that we have no information about what is going in there," said Larry Hogue, who lives on nearby Maplewood Street, a dead end that would become a through street for development access. "We don't know what will happen to Maplewood."

Shawn Coatney, developer and owner of the 28.6 acres, said the $30 million to $40 million complex would beautify the neighborhood with pools, playgrounds and barbecue areas.

"I'm sorry the dead-end street is an issue," he told council. "The city of Springfield is growing so rapidly, there's not going to be many dead-end streets left on the map."

But the bigger issue to council was that neighbors were not informed of the project.

"I'm not comfortable voting on this until the developer has a meeting with the neighbors," said Mayor Tom Carlson. "This is a big project. I don't think we should just feed it through."

Council members and city staff recommended the developer conduct neighborhood meetings before the next council session. The public hearing will continue at the July 28 meeting.

Council also heard plans for an approximately 144-unit apartment development by Sam Coryell in the 600 and 700 blocks of West Battlefield Road. Half of the 10 acres is designated for offices, said Andy Furedy, zoning administrator. Coryell plans to install a bus turnaround in the development.

He said a neighborhood meeting to unveil the plans drew about 20 nearby residents. Coryell has been in the rental market since 1988.

Council will vote on the plan July 28.

Greenlawn Funeral Home

After being snubbed by City Council in January, Greenlawn Funeral Home may have found a location for its third Springfield facility.

Greenlawn representatives presented a plan to build on seven acres at 3540 E. Seminole St., adjacent to Springfield Catholic High School. Council denied Greenlawn's proposal for a new facility at South Lone Pine Avenue and Southern Hills Boulevard amid public outcry over the property's use.

Furedy said the new plan fits into other permitted uses of the land, such as offices, retirement homes and churches.

The proposed structure is identical to the one proposed in previous requests, said Steve Mumert of Hood-Rich Architects, who represented the applicant.

"We feel traffic would be less than if it were developed as offices," he said.

School authorities approve of the facility, which would be built on seven acres next to the high school.

"Greenlawn would make a good neighbor to the school," said Tom Walmsley, director of development and properties for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cape Girardeau.

Council will vote on the bill July 28.

Adaptive reuse

Drury University plans to move its development office into a former university fraternity house at 1207 N. Benton Ave.

Several council members complimented Drury on the adaptive reuse, which architect John Oke-Thomas said would "maintain the integrity of the existing building." The property is within the Mid-town Urban Conservation District.

Another adaptive reuse is proposed for a former grocery store at 1000 W. Mt. Vernon, which is now vacant. Building owner Stacie Bilyeu plans to move her law office, located at 205 Park Central East, into the structure.

"I think this is a good reuse of that building and will get it off of that boarded-up category," said councilman Ralph Manley.