Ciminelli Real Estate has tweaked plans for its proposed Waterfront Village project and is working with neighbors on further refinements. Ciminelli is proposing a five-story condominium building with approximately twenty units and ten townhouses for a City-owned 2.4 acre site at 240-260 Lakefront Boulevard. Carmina Wood Morris is designing the project.
In January, Ciminelli was selected as designated developer for the parcel, beating out a competing proposal from Forbes Capretto Homes, Impacto Consulting and McGuire Development.
Preliminary plans (below) called for the condo building to be located between the Marina Park development and Portside’s reflecting pond. The townhouses would have lined Lakefront Boulevard across from the Breakwaters condominiums.
Previous Site Plan
Under the latest plan, the condo building and townhouses have traded places. Ten three-story townhouses with rooftop patios will be located on the north end of the site fronting the Portside condominium decorative pond. The condominium building with underground parking would be located behind the Marina Park tennis court at the corner of Lakefront and Ojibwa Circle. A view corridor from Lakefront Boulevard to the Erie Basin observation tower is preserved.
Ciminelli presented its plans to the Waterfront Village Advisory Council two weeks ago. According to one neighbor, “the residents hate it.” Among the issues raised were building heights, views, setbacks, and layout.
Some residents object to the property being developed at all. It has become a de-facto green space as various development plans for the parcel have come and gone in recent years. The site was always planned for residences. Original plans for the Marina Park development called for ten buildings and detached garages (below). Just two buildings were completed. The site was then earmarked for the Portside condominium project. In fits and starts only three buildings were completed in Portside leaving the remaining 2.4 acres development-ready.
Original Scope of Marina Park Development
A follow-up meeting with Ciminelli in July is planned to further review the project. A member of the Waterfront Village Advisory Council and three representatives from adjoining developments will discuss alternatives and options to the current design.
Pending various approvals, work on the first units is expected to start early next year.