New five-story apartment buildings, retail approved for key downtown Lexington intersection
An area of Lexington that has seen rapid growth in recent years may soon be getting a new apartment and retail complex.
The site is the former Lexington Cut Stone Marble and Tile Company behind the former Lexington Herald-Leader building which is now owned by the Fayette County Public School system.
UCD Midland, the developers, want to put two, five-story buildings on the site, a key entryway into downtown Lexington.
The Lexington-Fayette County Urban County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a zone change from a neighborhood business (B-1) zone, a light industrial (I-1) zone, and a mixed use community (MU-3) zone to a downtown frame business (B-2A) zone for 3 acres that includes property at 262-276 Midland Avenue and 604 Winchester Road.
The buildings will include a total of 182 market-rate apartments and 2,000 square feet of retail space. There will be 208 parking spaces on the first floor of the buildings and along the back of the property. The plans for the property include two- and one-bedroom apartments.
The property can be accessed via Midland Avenue and through the rear of the property on Owen Avenue. Owen Avenue can only be used as an exit, developers said.
The proposed development is across the street from the MET, a Community Ventures development that also includes retail and restaurants on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors. It’s also within walking distance of National Avenue, a popular restaurant and bar spot.
Hal Baillie, a senior planner with the city, said planning staff recommended approval of the zone change. The city’s comprehensive plan, which guides development, calls for more density along major corridors such as Midland Avenue and Winchester Road. The comprehensive plan also calls for more housing choices. The area largely has single-family homes.
It’s also in an area that makes it easier for people to walk to restaurants and shops, he said.
However, there is a problem. A large, sewer trunk line runs through parts of the property, said Tom Martin, a senior planner. That trunk line will have to be moved.
“They are aware they have serious site constraints,” said Martin.
Scott Shapiro, of UCD Midland, said highly-educated young professionals are flocking to downtowns. Yet, Lexington has struggled to provide that type of housing for young professionals in the city’s core.
“One reason for this — It’s really hard,” Shapiro said.
The Legacy and Town Branch Trails, which goes through downtown and connects to the Legacy Trail, across Midland Avenue will also make the area even more appealing to young professionals who want to live in areas where they don’t need cars, he said.
“We want people to be able to walk, bike, scooter to wherever,” Shapiro said. “I don’t think we would have had a project without the Town Branch Trail.”
Sewer lines, truck traffic
Bruce Simpson, a lawyer for two townhome associations behind the property, said there are too many problems with the development and urged the planning commission to turn down the zone change.
Simpson said developers have known they can’t build over the sanitary sewer trunk line on the property but haven’t addressed the problem.
“They have not changed anything,” Simpson said. If the developers are going to re-route that sewer line, which they have said, then they need to show how they are going to do that, he said.
Shoddy construction has cost the city and taxpayers a lot, he said.
The city has spent $590 million on sanitary sewer upgrades as a result of “trust me development,” Simpson said. That $590 million was part of an Environmental Protection Agency consent decree, which made the city upgrade its sanitary sewer lines after years of neglect.
Midland Avenue and Winchester Road has a lot of tractor trailer truck traffic. There are also tractor trailers on Owens Avenue. Those trucks are trying to get into businesses in that area, he said.
“We haven’t heard one bit of concern about pedestrians and all these trucks and and all these cars,” Simpson said.
The commission ultimately voted unanimously to approve the zone change and development plan.
The zone change will now go to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for final approval. It’s not clear when the council will vote on the zone change.
This story was originally published April 28, 2023 at 10:12 AM.
