Developer Randy Alexander, president of The Alexander Company,

unveiled a $90 million redevelopment plan for the downtown area

last Tuesday. The site, called block 51, is currently owned by

Meriter Health Services. Block 51 encompasses the intersections

between West Washington Avenue, South Henry Street, West Main

Street and South Broom Street The plan will include 375

mixed-income housing units, 450 public parking stalls and

neighborhood retail space. According to the redevelopment plan,

housing options will include condominiums, apartments and other

alternatives with broad price and space ranges. The apartments will

range in size from 600 square feet to 1300 square feet and will

rent for $595 to $1,500 per month. The Alexander Company?s plan

will set aside 20 percent of the units for families with incomes

between $25,000 and $50,000, due to the recent approval of Mayor

Dave Cieselwiez?s Inclusionary Zoning plan. ?The proposal would

exceed the recently passed city ordinance which requires developers

to set aside a percentage of their units for those on fixed

incomes,? Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District said, adding that

Alexander?s plan is an accomplishment considering the high cost of

development in the downtown area. Terri L. Potter, president and

CEO of Meriter Health Services, praised Alexander?s plan in a press

conference Tuesday. ?[Alexander?s] proposal presents a solution for

the entire block. It responds to needs that have been raised by the

city ? those being parking for the West Washington Corridor and a

wide spectrum of housing options,? she said. Verveer was also

pleased with the new development. ?There are many fine attributes

to the proposed development,? Verveer said. ?Among them is the

diversity of land uses proposed.? Many were receptive to

Alexander?s plan because it incorporates much-needed parking spots

downtown. According to the West Washington Corridor Parking Study,

there is a need for 400 to 500 parking stalls in the area.

Alexander?s plan creates 450 public parking stalls in addition to

parking for tenants. The public parking and retail space have been

added in hopes of furthering the development of the capital area,

Natalie Bock, Development Project Manager for The Alexander

Company, said. The site plans are still in preliminary stages. City

Council will hold several meetings between members of the Bassett

neighborhood and project developers before the project gets

underway. Some concerns include the height of the proposed

buildings. City ordinance states that buildings may not be taller

than the capitol dome. However, some of the plans include building

heights up to the dome limit, Verveer said. He added that ensuring

the buildings do not tower over neighborhood housing might also be

important to area residents. ?Any development of this size affects

lots of people,? Bock said. ?We hope to meet with these people,

listen to what they have to say and implement their concerns into

our plan.?