Frank Noriega: MX district rationale and development plans
Noriega explains the M1-1 district mapped since 1961 doesn't reflect the area's predominantly residential character. After consulting with the councilmember and community board, an MX district was chosen to maintain industrial uses. The proposed 3.9 FAR building would have 25,000 square feet, predominantly residential with light manufacturing on the ground floor.
As you can imagine, it's extremely difficult to not only back a trailer in, which they used to be able to do years ago, but also even to park a truck along the street to unload goods for both goods coming in and goods coming out.
In addition to that, it's compounded by substantial traffic, which was expressed by the community board along this portion of Melrose, as well as substantial pedestrian traffic, which again makes it unsafe now.
To have these trucks parked on the street.
The client who's been in the neighborhood now for 17 years operating their business has located with their 24 employees, which are substantially from the surrounding neighborhood, to a warehouse building around the corner at 6 Stanwix.
They're really excited about that space.
It's actually appropriately configured to allow for loading, unloading, parking,
storage
alongside a loading berth, as well as a freight elevator in that building.
Just quickly, next slide, please.
We thought this was interesting.
The five lots actually were occupied at one point by residential uses.
These are images from the 1940s of those multifamily residential buildings.
On the right side are the two nonconforming residential buildings, which still exist today.
Next.
By the 70s.
Those three buildings were demolished.
And these are images from the 1980s tax map.
Since then, two of the three lots that are controlled by the two families that own the applicant site have remained undeveloped.
Next.
Some photos of the project site.