Developer Patrick Properties presented updated plans for a new eight-story apartment complex on Mendota Court to the State-Langdon Neighborhood Association meeting Thursday night.
After meeting with the Urban Design Committee earlier last month, the developers made changes to their plans to accommodate the committee’s concerns. The new plans, which were generally well received by the committee and alders present, now include adequate space for bike and moped parking, changes to the building’s exterior, new lights for security purposes, and five floors of six-bedroom units.
Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, called the changes encouraging and gave the developers his approval.
“These new designs look great,” Eagon said. “Some of the concerns that have been voiced from [the Urban Design Committee] about the building have been addressed.”
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, who had previously brought up the topic of noise complaints and likely social gatherings in the complex, expressed concern about the density of students in a six-bedroom unit.
“I really like [the new plans],” Maniaci said. “My only trip up is the number of six units. You’re going to have a party house on your hands. The six guys that live upstairs are going to want to come down and hang out with the six girls that live below them.”
Eagon, however, said he saw an untapped market for six-bedroom housing units.
Patrick Corcoran, owner of Patrick Properties, said issues of student gatherings would be addressed by increasing security.
“We are going to have a ton of security cameras on this property,” Corcoran said. “I’ve spoken to management of the properties around me, and it does help a lot in their policing of the partying. They know exactly who’s coming into the building. Once the tenants realize you’ve got to be careful who you’re letting in, it makes a big difference.”
Fred Mohs, a member of the Mansion Hill Neighborhood Steering Committee, said his committee was interested in preserving the current size of the Langdon Street neighborhood.
“The issue is this: we want to keep the scale of Langdon more or less what it is,” Mohs said. “We want to make sure the fraternities and the co-ops are not overpowered. We think that the objective should be to keep this part of the campus neighborhood in the scale that it is now.”
Mohs also encouraged the State-Langdon Neighborhood Association to collaborate with Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. on issues of common concern.
“We have a lot of fish to fry together,” Mohs said. “I think it could help, because you pick up more political power, more alders and more credibility.”
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, was also present and pushed the State-Langdon Neighborhood Association to develop a position on applications for liquor licenses.
“If the Neighborhood Association chooses to weigh in, it is very significant in the minds of the ALRC. The State-Langdon neighborhood hasn’t been very involved at all,” Verveer said.
State-Langdon President Scott Resnick said his committee was in the process of developing a protocol for such licenses and formalizing it.
The next steps for the Mendota Court apartment complex include bringing new designs before the Urban Design Committee and meeting with the Common Council.
