Development at Fourth and Polk should not result in large complex
Issue date: 9/23/09 Section: Opinions
Over the past few years, Charleston has been developing at a pace rarely seen for a town of its size.
Largely because of the college community, several businesses have opened (some have failed, though) and several businesses have moved or renovated, such as Marty's, updating its look.
Most noticeably, though, are the apartment complexes. New, large buildings have popped up, most of them on Fourth Street, offering ever-more housing options.
One property, however, has taken a painfully long amount of time to develop. That property being at the corner of Fourth Street and Polk Avenue.
For years, a large, white house, dilapidated and providing little more than an eyesore, marked the property.
Last year the house was finally torn down but the property remained a giant pile of rubble causing even more of a pain to look at than the decrepit house before it.
Finally, after a long dispute with city officials, the owners of the property cleared away the debris, leaving only a gaping hole in the ground. Not much progress, but baby steps are better than nothing.
In a story that appeared in Monday's edition of The Daily Eastern News, the owner of the property, Chad Phillips, said he wished to turn the property into a new 56-bedroom apartment complex.
After last week's City Council meeting, Chad Phillips, along with his brother and co-owner of the property, Hadley Phillips, saw the variance dealing with issue placed on file for public inspection, which the council will vote on the matter at its Oct. 6 meeting and decide the fate of the property.
Mayor John Inyart and councilmember Larry Rennels voted against the variance, however, saying they would like to see smaller development, "such as 17, two-bedroom apartments." The story stated Inyart and Rennels "said a new complex could also disturb the surrounding single-family neighborhood."
Any type of development that shows Charleston's growth and economic movement is a great thing.
Largely because of the college community, several businesses have opened (some have failed, though) and several businesses have moved or renovated, such as Marty's, updating its look.
Most noticeably, though, are the apartment complexes. New, large buildings have popped up, most of them on Fourth Street, offering ever-more housing options.
One property, however, has taken a painfully long amount of time to develop. That property being at the corner of Fourth Street and Polk Avenue.
For years, a large, white house, dilapidated and providing little more than an eyesore, marked the property.
Last year the house was finally torn down but the property remained a giant pile of rubble causing even more of a pain to look at than the decrepit house before it.
Finally, after a long dispute with city officials, the owners of the property cleared away the debris, leaving only a gaping hole in the ground. Not much progress, but baby steps are better than nothing.
In a story that appeared in Monday's edition of The Daily Eastern News, the owner of the property, Chad Phillips, said he wished to turn the property into a new 56-bedroom apartment complex.
After last week's City Council meeting, Chad Phillips, along with his brother and co-owner of the property, Hadley Phillips, saw the variance dealing with issue placed on file for public inspection, which the council will vote on the matter at its Oct. 6 meeting and decide the fate of the property.
Mayor John Inyart and councilmember Larry Rennels voted against the variance, however, saying they would like to see smaller development, "such as 17, two-bedroom apartments." The story stated Inyart and Rennels "said a new complex could also disturb the surrounding single-family neighborhood."
Any type of development that shows Charleston's growth and economic movement is a great thing.
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