It's dark.
It's not very comfortable.
So they have requested lighting on this side, which my client is already intending to do,
and also security cameras, whether they would be positioned on the various corners around
building that is is part of the proposal as well as hiring um security staff to be a part of the
project going forward and i'd like to pull up some of the floor plans so as we went through the the
So, as we went through the ground floor plan previously, there is also a cell or a basement
space attached to the building that's divided between the commercial area and the residential.
So it's about 60% commercial and maybe 30% residential and the rest is mechanicals to
service the building. And the plan as of now, as the layout is set up, we do have, I'm going to
zoom in just so you can see a little better. There is a mix of apartments proposed for this
development. We have 56 studios proposed, 24 one-bedroom units, and 19 two-bedroom units that
will range from various sizes to try to give a good mix of tenants that would be able to
live at the building, not pure students. We want members from the community to also be able to
see this as a place to live long-term, and that's why there's a decent number of two-bedroom units
with two bedrooms, two baths. And the floor plans basically mirror each other as we go
up over the five stories. So on the screen, members of the board currently at page 112
are just typical studios, one bedroom, two bedroom units that would populate the various
spaces throughout the building. And for the most part, they're really good sized units.
The studios start at 475 and go up to 575, and the one bedrooms are between 750 up to
950, and the two bedrooms are around 1,000, 1050 at this point on the models at this point.
And we did have a truck of rendering of the turning plan just to make sure the turning radius to service the commercial space would be accessible and safe.
And if Diamond Street is wide enough, large enough that that should be easily accessible to service the building.
So, those are the main points of the project. As I've mentioned previously, the hardship
here really is the characteristics of this neighborhood and specifically along the I2
train track corridor has transitioned into this commercial residential mixed-use development,
And this is in keeping with the neighborhood where this property is currently located.
The auto use is kind of outdated.
And if you look at the surrounding properties, it's mainly we're dealing with RM1 properties all around us, residential over here and Temple's campus is to the west.
So it makes sense.
It's a logical spot to bring in commercial mixed use.
one of the big feedbacks from the community was what type of commercial tenant would service that
main commercial space and we do not have a tenant my clients has different tenants in mind like a
target express and one of the comments from the community was to try to focus on fresh food type
options a giant heirloom store we discussed like a river words produce type idea something that
um brings fresh food to that as they reference on the call like that side of the tracks um
so that is something we're definitely looking into and on the second floor commercial space
there was discussions about coffee shops um maybe like a fedex kinko's type store like a
post post depot that's low impact but would service the members of the community
um close by not having to walk up get all over to broad street but we're in communications and
will be on gun with the near neighbors to get further impact or further input on those commercial
tenants. All right, you summarize? Yeah, so in summary, we have a full letter of support from
the registered community groups. I believe Councilman Clark's office is either not taking
a position or hopefully supports. My client feels that this is a great use for this location and
would be a benefit to the community,
and the community seems to support that idea as well.
The hardship here is that the community has transitioned,
the neighborhood has transitioned from this I2 use,
and that creates a hardship for the subject property.
And we would request that the board grant this use variance
so that the property can be developed
and better the community.
Thank you.
Thank you. Do you have anyone to bring on as a witness?
Do you have anyone to bring on as a witness?
I would, yes and no.
I would. Yes, Mr. Chair. I would like to call Gary Murray to raise his hand to see if we can bring him on.
You can unmute, Gary.
Can you hear me?
Yes, sir. Please identify yourself for the record. Spell your first and last name.
Good evening. I'm Gary Murray, the owner of Mazel Tov Development.
Mr. Murray. Oh, sorry. What about your last name, please?
M-U-R-R-A-Y.
You swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Thank you. Please proceed.
Mr. Murray, did you hear the factual presentation that I just presented to the board?
I did. I did.
and were my statements true and correct uh to the best of your your knowledge uh yes they were
and would you adopt those statements that were put on the record as your own
yes i would thank you sorry i'm trying to get my uh my video together for some reason i can't
that's okay we can hear you that's fine all right uh any questions from the board no
no anyone else wish to testify in this case if so please raise your hand um i would like to
who i just wanted to let everybody know and put on record it was definitely because i know that
there are some members of the community that are on here today um i definitely want to i'm sorry
Who's speaking?
Is that who you're speaking?
Oh, okay.
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to put it on record that we've worked with the community for some time.
After multiple meetings with the community, we've met three times with APM as well as
another RCO intern.
In turn, it's been a pleasure to work with the community and putting together the best use for this site.
We have definitely taken into consideration a lot of the different requests that were made of us, including a parking resolution community benefits package
that would include some support for parking for some residents that are near and that are
in need of assistance. But it's definitely been a pleasure. We're looking forward to being able to
bring something fresh to the community there. We just actually had a cleanup benefit in the area,
which is something that we're looking to continue on as well as this property is going to be
managed and have its own maintenance and cleaning detail, which will keep the area and location at
all times at its best shape as possible, to keep it as clean as possible. And we're just looking
forward to being a part of the community. We have gotten some input in regards to the commercial
spaces. We have plans to try to get a UPS store in there where members of the community can go
there to get copies made, use computers, have P.O. boxes, etc. It's a great type of business for
people that have small businesses in the area or looking to create small businesses where they can
have access to it um as well we're looking to put in a uh i have a friend who has um a very popular
um breakfast brunch uh company it's called green eggs we're looking to bring him to the location
as well um so we're definitely looking to have a number of things that would definitely benefit
the community in a number of ways um so we're really excited about this um i did earlier um kind
to miss the point on the balconies. So if I could get some clarity on what the discrepancy
was with that, that would be helpful. The project as it's being viewed and the renderings
is exactly the way that we presented it to the CDR committee. And it was very, very,
very well received as is. So I guess, you know, whatever we need to do to kind of keep
things the way that they are definitely open for discussions on that I'm not sure if there is some
type of a proviso but we've we've definitely been at this for a very long time like I said we've met
But we've definitely been at this for a very long time.
Like I said, we've met with community groups multiple times.
And Mr. Murray, Mr. Murray, with all due respect, we appreciate your comments.
But I think most of everything you have stated has already been covered by your counsel.
All right.
Thank you.
Any questions from the board?
no no no okay i'll try again anyone else would like to testify in this case if so please raise
your hand no hey thank you planning commission good afternoon this is greg waldman from the
planning commission this property is indicated for um oh sorry she is
This property is indicated for residential multifamily in the comprehensive plan and
has not yet been remapped.
The proposal was reviewed by the Civic Design Review on March 3 of 2020 and had support
from the committee.
While we have concerns that the proposed commercial space is larger than can reasonably be supported
in this area, we have no objection to the granting of the variance.
Thank you. Sharon, I'm going to read this off. And what was it we agreed to do regarding the balconies?
I believe that you're going to hold it for a week or two weeks, and he will come back and make a decision on whether to remove the balconies or to perhaps submit a revised application to L&I.
We'll have to check with Tanya.
Tanya, do you have a date?
Oh, that's perfectly fine because we're just going to have a resumption hearing with revised plans, if I'm understanding correctly.
So he can come back the 27th, October 27th.
That works fine.
930 works well.
Thank you.
mi-2020-000719 919 diamond street this hearing will be resumed on october the 27th at 9 30 a.m
at which time we will know whether there's any revision as it relates to
the balconies that have been presented in today's plan does that make sense
yes yes and i would recommend mr mckelhanie that you um email or call me in the meantime
yes i will do thank you okay uh i think that concludes the 3 30 session
yes chair it does any unfinished business tanya sharon anyone no chair
we're all good
okay everyone have a safe night
likewise
send all your
thank yous to Rudy Giuliani
thank you
thanks Frank