mcsla

Those looking to preserve Manor Theater should be paying attention to the Circa rezoning request one block away (discussed above). Almost 3 acres of land in the Manor Theater location have been accumulated by one investor and what happens with the Circa NS rezoning request will probably have a precedent setting impact on the Manor Theater location. Residents have started the following change.org petition with 500+ signatures: https://www.change.org/p/eric-smith-vote-no-to-circa-rezoning-to-4-story-32-000-sf-and-2-story-3-600-sf-at-providence-and-laurel Arguments against the rezoning are: 1) This rezoning does not adhere to the Elizabeth Area Plan which Crescent Heights has been annexed into. The Elizabeth Area Plan states that buildings must maintain the height/scale of existing adjacent buildings. There are no buildings anywhere in the vicinity that are 50 feet tall. 2) Investors have accumulated two sets of parcels (including Manor Theater) within one block of this site and are awaiting the results of this rezoning. Allowing this rezoning will most likely transform the Providence corridor with future NS rezonings, magnifying inadequate parking and out of scale development. 3) This development does not fit the criteria needed for NS rezoning and is an attempt to bypass current density/parking rules. NS zoning, according to Zoning ordinances, allows more density with reduced parking because the development is to serve the neighborhood (residents walk to and fro) and exist near mass transit. This is not the case here. 4) Simple math suggests the number of parking spaces is grossly inadequate. 10 for sale luxury residential units = 20 spaces needed. The new Circa showroom will use 9 parking spots (photo of current Circa parking included). 20 + 9 = 29 spaces needed before accounting for the new 3,600 sq. ft. office building. Total number of non-handicapped spaces provided is 27. So before accounting for people working in the new 3,600 sq. ft. office building, we have already run out of spaces. Crescent Ave. has no room for additional parking.