Posted: 1:31 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Luxury apartments one step closer in Middletown

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/ed-richter/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

    A proposed $20 million, 216-apartment community for South Towne Boulevard had no opponents during a public hearing Tuesday held by Middletown City Council and will proceed with the completion of final development plans.

    Fred Burns Builder Development Team, a Kentucky developer of luxury apartment communities, also received approval on an emergency resolution for the planned use modification development plan so that project can get through the final plan approval process quicker and begin construction at the earliest opportunity. The final plans are expected to be submitted to the city for review by March 18 and for final development approval by the Planning     Commission in April, according to Art Hardin, president of Calibre Engineering in Centerville.

    Tonya Burns of the development company said council’s approval of Nicholas Place will enable the project breaking ground in April or May. She has said that the first apartments could be ready for occupancy in late 2015 and into 2016.

    The 22.44-acre tract was previously approved several years ago for a similar-sized apartment community. The project will be the first new upscale market-rate apartments built in Middletown in more than 30 years, according to city Planner Marty Kohler. The new apartment homes are designed to attract new residents who may not want to be home buyers.

    According to Planning Commission documents, the site also has another 8.39-acres that is also being planned for retail development. That part of the city is served by the Lebanon City School District.

    The site was originally approved for a similar-sized apartment community that was to be called Wellington Manor in 2007 and an expansion was approved in 2008. The Planning Commission and City Council approved a new development plan in 2011, but no construction ever began on the site.

    “The Nicholas Place Apartments will be the first new residential apartments built in Middletown in several years,” said Denise Hamet, Middletown’s economic development director. “We are pleased that this project will be moving forward. It speaks to the vibrancy and continued growth and investment in the Renaissance District, which includes the opening of a new Hampton Inn two years ago and the recent Kroger expansion.”

    The family-owned company has developed a number of properties of this size and just completed a similar-sized luxury apartment community in LaGrange, Ky., just outside of Louisville. The Middletown project will be the company’s first venture into Ohio

    She said the company currently owns in excess of 1,200 units in seven properties in Kentucky, including four apartment properties in Northern Kentucky communities of Florence, Independence and Burlington.

    Burns, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s council meeting due to the severe winter weather conditions, said, “We’re real thrilled about this.”

    “We’re so excited and we can’t wait to get up there,” she said. “We like to build as soon as we get the final approvals. That’s when the fun starts (of building).”

    The Middletown site has 22.4 acres and will have nine buildings with 24 units, each of two- and three-bedroom apartments. The average unit will have about 1,145 square feet of floor space and 95 percent will have brick exteriors.

    The community would include amenities such as a pool, clubhouse/fitness room, playground, garage spaces, community garden, a dog park and basketball court. Of the 216 planned units, plans call for 144 two-bedroom units and 72 three-bedroom units. Burns declined to give a specific price point for the units, but did say they would be market rate.

    Although there was no opposition at Tuesday’s public hearing conducted by council, one resident, Kevin Banks, of Arbor Court in the Bridgewood Villas subdivision south of the proposed complex, sent a note opposing the project. He could not attend the meeting due to his work schedule.

    He reiterated the same objections that he sent to the Planning Commission which included having such a large apartment community located near his home, the need to fix the city’s roads and infrastructure, and ridding the city of its aging and deserted buildings. “All (of) this (is) needed and Middletown puts up lighted pillars along (Ohio) 122. Come on people,” he wrote.

    City officials said the property is in the East End Tax Increment Financing district and the new property valuation and resulting taxes would contribute to the retirement of the debt for the construction of South Towne Boulevard. The project would also result in a $97,200 park impact fee for new park acquisition or capital improvements. There will be additional costs for City services for the new residents.