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389 St. Clair rezoning, site plan approvedFree Access


photo by Renee Landuyt
Filling the school administration building at 389 St. Clair will be 18 apartment units, with eight townhomes separately constructed on the property as well.

CITY OF GROSSE POINTE — With the conditional rezoning of 389 St. Clair from single family to transition during Monday night’s council meeting, 18 apartment units and eight townhomes now are slated for the property.

After tabling the matter at the August council meeting, the developers, brothers Mark and Craig Menuck of Curtis Building, returned to the drawing board to incorporate recommendations from city council and community opinion. 

Changes made to their original proposal include reducing the number of apartment units from 23 to 18; eliminating and combining the smallest units to create units as large as 1,270 to 1,600 square feet; reducing the size of the building on the Notre Dame side to create setbacks of 9 feet instead of 5 feet; offering more parking spaces per unit than initially planned; and incorporating additional green space.

Plans include four one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and one three-bedroom apartment units, while all the townhouse units are more than 2,000 square feet.

The site plan of the development was deemed consistent with the City’s master plan, according to City Planner John Jackson.

“While this site may not be identified on the future land use plan as multi-family or transition,” he said, “… (the site plan) talks about some of the goals and objectives that are included in the City’s master plan such as preserving local historic assets like the school building and also providing alternative housing types and styles.”

A demonstrated demand for the use, Jackson said, can be seen in the fact there are nearly 1,400 houses in the City that are occupied by only one or two people, while there are only 554 one-bedroom and two-bedroom units in the City.

“The fact of the matter is, the houses are larger than the population is demanding,” he said.

The planning commission, comprised of city council members, unanimously recommended approval of conditional rezoning Monday, followed by city council unanimously adopting the rezoning, as well as the proposed site plan.

However, the conditional rezoning will be revoked if the developers do not meet agreed-to benchmarks, such as sticking to a maximum of 18 apartment units and eight townhomes; limiting the building height to 35 feet as measured to the midpoint of the roof; keeping front yard setbacks the same distance as other homes on Notre Dame, which is approximately 25 feet; and keeping the side yard setback to the south a minimum of 9 feet and to the north a minimum of 22 feet.

The developers also will be required to conduct a pressure test on the existing water main to ensure adequate water pressure to the existing neighborhood and new development, covering 100 percent of any improvements deemed necessary by the City, which could include replacement of the water main along either Notre Dame or St. Clair.

“The change in the zoning is conditional upon them building the project exactly as you approve it on the site plan,” City Attorney Charles Kennedy told council, “and there are time limits compliant with our zoning code for them to be able to do that.”

Said time limits include a requirement for the developer to get permits within one year, start construction within six months after that and complete construction within two years.

“I have complete confidence in our ability to manage this process and work with the developer and get what we need,” Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said. “… The best practice for old buildings is adaptive reuse, not to fill landfills with hundred-year-old buildings and not to put up cheap homes so we look like a subdivision. That’s what would happen here.”

Within the packed council chamber Monday night were many residents opposed to the development, some of whom have put up lawn signs stating so.

“If you want to build apartments, do it in a different zoning,” said St. Clair resident Steve Cavera. “Don’t do it in the middle of this residential community. It’s the wrong place, not necessarily the wrong idea. To those of you in the audience who want more rentals, I don’t disagree with you, (but) pick the best spot for it. This is not the best spot for it.”

Concerns of St. Clair residents opposed to the development included visitors to the apartments filling up on-street parking, the type of renters who could move into the City and an increase in traffic on the streets.

Photo by Renee Landuyt
These signs opposing the apartment development were placed along the stretch of St. Clair between Jefferson and Maumee.

While a report by the Transportation Improvement Association indicated the apartments will generate 77 less vehicle trips per day than the current administration building use, the opposed residents strongly disagreed with the statistics.

However, some residents did support the development.

“The studies have shown that we need more smaller units for seniors and single professionals and these will appeal to single professionals with the rents that they’re asking,” St. Clair resident Kurt Shuck said. “Removing the old building, I think, will disrupt the neighborhood much more than keeping and rehabbing it.

“We have empty storefronts in The Village that could stand some foot traffic,” he added, “and this is only a couple blocks away and it’s a perfect spot for it.”

According to City Manager Pete Dame, a financial report found the development will generate $227,000 in taxes annually, $65,000 of which will go to the City. Currently, the City makes no taxes off the school-owned property.

“The proposed development would support property value,” Councilman David Fries said. “It would enhance economic investment. It would provide empty nesters and young professionals a place to live and, finally, it would preserve 1906 and 1912 architecture.”

Prior to the vote, multiple council members took the opportunity to tour a development in Plymouth where Curtis Builders similarly converted an old school building into apartments. All stated they were impressed.

“It’s really remarkable how much charm the history of the building added to the character of that development,” Councilwoman Maureen Juip said. “… (389 St. Clair) really is a building that contributes to the character of our Grosse Pointe City community and I am grateful that someone is willing to continue to give it a new life.”