MU Campus Apartments Approved
Council approves zoning change for 6-floor, 80-apartment project at 14th and Wells. Latest renderings released, too.
1400 W. Wells St. Feature. Rendering by Korb Tredo Architects.
The Opus Group’s proposed six-story mixed-use building for 1400 West Wells Street, the corner of N. 14th St. and W. Wells St., received a key approval from the Common Council yersterday. The developer was requesting a change of zoning from Local Business (LB2) to a Detailed Planned Development (DPD) to allow for the building to be built on the site. This request had been held for a special hearing of Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee just prior to the Common Council meeting due to concerns over a portion of the design. It was approved by the zoning committee on a 4 to 0 vote, with Ald. Willie Wade being excused. Shortly thereafter it was approved by the full common council.
The hold was in response to Ald. Robert Bauman’s request for changes to the north side, the back, of the building to minimize the impact to the neighboring residents. Initially the designs included a large blank wall, because city code didn’t allow the building to be built to the property line and have windows. Korb Tredo Architects, altered the designs to the north wall to include metal and cement panels, and details to create a level of depth to the wall.
The building will have 80 high-end apartments, which will include 10 studio, 10 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom, five three-bedroom, and 10 four-bedroom apartments. The first floor will have a mix of retail uses, possibly a book store and fast food restaurant if tenants at the site currently are retained. Due to its proximity to Marquette University the project is geared toward MU students as potential renters.
Updated Project Renderings
Which corner of 14th and Wells will this be on? 1400 would imply the northwest corner, which would also imply Kampus Foods & Subway will go away.
@Dan Yes the current strip mall would be demolished. Though the developer does hope to retain some of the current tenants.
West side development! That’s what I’m talkin bout!
Since they used red lettering for the retail signs, I wonder if they are hoping that Walgreens will take notice.
Good stuff … but… those are still blank walls! they just have little grey rectangles on them!
@Tyrell I agree but it is essentially the alley side. It isn’t a blank wall along a street.
So Opus wanted to build to the North property line and put windows on that wall and city code didn’t allow it? Why would city code prevent any wall from having windows?
@Alex I’d have to double check but I believe the issue is another building could be built on the adjacent property. And in that case openings are an issue for fire code…. Again I’d have to double check but I think that’s where it stems from.