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Chelsea Montrose High Rise Underway: May 6 Meeting

Chelsea Montrose High Rise Underway

MAMA Partners with Developer to Seek Construction and Traffic Solutions

 Representatives from SLR were on hand at a special May 6 MAMA meeting to answer questions and address concerns about the development of Chelsea Montrose High Rise.  SLR specializes in luxury apartment development, and the 20-story building now underway on Chelsea just east of Chelsea Market will hold 300 high-end apartments. SLR has completed demolition of the previous structures and expects to break ground on the project next month.

Representatives at the meeting were Michael Goodwin, project manager; land developer Greg Nadeau; and Greg Henry, building architect.  Mr. Goodwin introduced the project and Mr. Henry presented the renderings, which show the building with a reddish-brick cladding and limestone accent on lower and upper stories.  The plans call for a seven-level garage with 10-20 percent of spaces reserved for visitor parking. Sixty percent of the units will be one bedroom; the remainder will be two bedroom and on the upper two levels, penthouse units.

Neighbors generally affirmed the project design as attractive and most comments voiced acceptance or support for the development while expressing there will be many stresses and challenges on the neighborhood. For those who haven’t seen it, the West University Examiner covered the meeting. Click here for the story.

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/memorial/news/residents-hope-high-rise-developer-becomes-a-good-neighbor/article_0ee3282e-dc32-11e3-a809-001a4bcf887a.html

Concerns about the new project centered around two primary issues:

  • Construction-phase disruptions to the neighborhood
  •  Long-term concerns about the impact on traffic

  Construction Issues:

  •  Construction Parking:  SLR anticipates leasing space in the neighborhood for construction parking and agreed that construction parking should not be permitted on Chelsea. The site already has 20 parking spaces dedicated for deliveries and other construction traffic
  • Median Removal: Portions of the median on Chelsea facing the project will be removed according to the City of Houston traffic plan to accommodate traffic into the site.
  • Troubleshooting:  MAMA president Allen Ueckert will have contact information for the construction manager, and the construction contractor is a division of the development company.
  • Noise: The issue was raised but no solutions proffered other than the limits on hours.
  • Partnering with MAMA:  SLR is willing to join with MAMA to support Bell Park and other neighborhood projects such as restoring the easement landscaping along the TxDoT detention pond.
  • Loss of trees:  SLR acknowledges the loss of trees, is working to preserve some large specimens and will be planting at least 25 trees to create a streetscape it hopes will be attractive.
  • Repair of street damage: SLR will repair damage caused by construction activity.

 Traffic Concerns:

 Increased Traffic:  The City of Houston denied SLR’s initial request to alter existing traffic signals at Montrose but is open to doing a real-time analysis of the lights once the project opens.  To move a light will require City Council approval.

  •   Proactive Solutions:  SLR has bike racks to encourage cycling and has 1.55 parking spots per apartment which exceeds the city’s requirement. Building plans for street level features should encourage pedestrian activity.
  • Hiring Independent Traffic Analyst:  SLR made no commitment to this suggestion.
  • Partnering with MAMA to Determine Traffic Solutions:  SLR agreed to partner with MAMA to find traffic solutions, including working with the Montrose Management District on parking to prevent overflow onto neighborhood streets.

  

Single-Stream Recycling Program Extended to Some in MAMA Vicinity

 

Councilwoman Ellen Cohen has announced that more than 15 neighborhoods in District C will receive 96-gallon green bins that will allow these households to use a single receptacle for recycling and garbage.  In our area, Boulevard Oaks and other streets  will be receiving the bins within the next few weeks.  Mayor Parker’s 2015 budget proposal includes the recommendation to extend the single-stream program throughout the city.

The Solid Waste Department has provided a mapping tool that enables residents to check whether their homes are included in the latest expansion and when their new service days will be.