Discussion begins Tuesday: Is Ann Arbor ready for 2 high-rise apartments downtown?

Ann Arbor Planning Commission will consider requests Tuesday night for two new 14-story apartment buildings that would bring more than 700 beds to the student rental market.

The 413 East Huron project, proposed for the corner of East Huron and North Division streets, is a 14-story, 216-unit “modern-industrial” apartment building proposed by several out-of-state developers. The estimated development cost is $45 million.

The building would replace a rental house, former Papa John’s pizza store and a vacant building. Connecticut-based Greenfield Partners purchased the various parcels for $6 million during the past six months.

The project, located in the city’s D1 zoning, would include 132 underground parking spaces, and first-floor retail space with food kiosks and a coffee bar. Amenities include a fitness center, yoga studio, business center and outdoor pool on the third level. Plans call for 533 total bedrooms that would be marketed to University of Michigan students.

Because the building would abut a historic residential neighborhood to the north, neighbors and city leaders have tried for months to convince the developers to amend their plans by reducing the building’s massing, increasing setbacks and changing the design.

According to a city of Ann Arbor planning staff report, the “petitioner’s design team considered these options and determined the changes would not fit their development program.”

Planning staff is recommending site plan approval be postponed until outstanding comments related to traffic impact are received from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Minnesota-based Opus Group and Pizza House restaurant owner Dennis Tice are proposing the second project, located at 624 Church Street. A 14-story, 76-unit building would be constructed over the existing restaurant, which is located in the D1 zoning. There would be between 175 and 185 total bedrooms for U-M students.

Plans include a fitness room, study lounge and rooftop plaza. There would be 42 parking spaces provided off-site in the Forest Avenue public parking structure.

Planning staff is recommending approval of the project.

Ann Arbor Planning Commission will consider both requests at its scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 15.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.