Zoning for a $4 million project to construct an apartment complex on Springfield's north side was unanimously approved June 18 by the Springfield City Council, despite continued opposition from neighbors who believe it will increase traffic hazards and otherwise detract from the feel of the residential neighborhood.
Ward 5 Ald. Lakeisha Purchase, who represents the area where the property is
located, said she recommended the City Council approve the zoning request for
the North Walnut Street apartment complex because she was "able to work
out concerns from my constituents" with the developer, Springfield
physician Dr. Muhammad Ali Naveed.
At the May 21 City Council meeting when the project was first discussed, several neighbors spoke in opposition and Purchase requested that the City Council table a final vote on the zoning proposal.
The Springfield Planning and
Zoning Commission had recommended that the Springfield City Council approve the
proposed zoning change and variance, noting that "Negative impacts are not
anticipated."
Regional land-use officials said the proposed change in the current office and
commercial zoning to a form of residential zoning would be an "acceptable
variation" for the vacant land that would be developed in the 900 block of
North Walnut Street.
The complex would cover the addresses of 913, 917, 919, 921 and
923 N. Walnut, which is currently vacant, grassy lot with several large trees
immediately south of a one-story Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
Services office building.
Purchase facilitated an informal meeting on the project June 7
with Naveed and the neighbors at Cook’s Spice Rack & Chili. Neighbors told
Naveed that they worried he would build the complex and then decide later to
rent to low-income tenants whose rent would be paid through the federal Section
8 program. He said he had no interest in using the Section 8 program.
Following the meeting with neighbors to hear their concerns, Purchase
said Naveed made verbal commitments to reduce the size of the complex from 18
to 16 units and focus on renting to workers in Springfield's medical industry
and students training to be doctors and nurses.
Medical district officials have said convenient, decent housing is
a major need as employment by Springfield Memorial Hospital, HSHS St. John's
Hospital, Springfield Clinic, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
and other medical providers keeps growing.
However, John Austin, one of the neighbors, said those commitments don't satisfy neighbors' concerns because they don't want a three-story building in their neighborhood, and they remain worried about the increased traffic and related public-safety concerns that the complex will bring.
"It's going to stick out like a sore thumb," Austin said.
Purchase said other neighbors told her they appreciated the alterations and appreciated meeting with her and Naveed to discuss their concerns.
Purchase said she didn't know whether the reduction of two apartment units for
the final plan would alter the complex's number of levels to two or one story.
She said Springfield lawyer Tom Pavlik, who is representing Naveed, could
answer that question. Pavlik didn't return phone calls from Illinois Times.
Naveed received zoning approval from the City Council on April 16
for a different apartment complex project, this one to include a total of 36
units and consisting of three three-story buildings near Bruns Lane and Hill
Meadows Drive.
The project, estimated to cost $5 million to $6 million, will be
constructed after the North Walnut apartments are completed, Naveed said.
