GREENFIELD — A development company with a large presence in the Midwest wants to bring high-end apartments and single-family homes to the west side of Greenfield.
Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods, of Independence, Ohio, has proposed building 115 apartment units and 146 single-family lots on a 46-acre property of farmland at the corner of West McKenzie Road and North Franklin Street, just south of Greenfield-Central Junior High School. Jim Frey, a representative for the company, presented the housing plan to the Greenfield City Council last week.
The company offers two-bedroom, two-bathroom single-story apartments with attached two-car garages, spanning 1,295 square feet to 1,600 square feet. Frey said the apartments are “high-end,” and rents range from $1,400 to $1,700. Redwood targets empty nesters and young professionals, he said.
The apartments include “high-end” amenities such as vaulted ceilings, high-efficiency furnaces, granite countertops, upscale stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets and open floor plans, Frey said. The complex has private concrete streets, sidewalks and no pool or apartment clubhouse.
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Frey said the neighborhood isn’t “conducive” to children; kids under the age of 16 have to be supervised by adults when outside their home. He said mainly older couples and young professionals live in the community, people Frey said pursue “peace, quiet and comfort.”
In addition to the 115 single-story apartments, Frey said Redwood is discussing with four home builders about the 146 lots to the west of the area planned for apartments.
The land slated for the development is outside of Greenfield city limits, so the city would have to approve voluntary annexation of the property. Joanie Fitzwater, Greenfield city planner, said no annexation can occur in 2019 due to the 2020 Census. Because of that, Frey said Redwood intends to begin the zoning process with Hancock County boards until Greenfield can accept the annexation next year.
Elizabeth Williams, of Clark Quinn Law Firm, said Redwood will present a planned unit development to the county incorporating Greenfield zoning and will work informally with Greenfield officials.
Frey said Redwood wants to use Greenfield water, sewer and electric utilities for the property. But in order to use electric utilities outside of the city’s jurisdiction, they have to get permission from NineStar Connect. Frey said Redwood sent a request to NineStar on June 6.
Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell said he’s inclined to only be in favor of the annexation if the city can negotiate the best deal with NineStar for Greenfield to supply electricity to the 261 housing units.
“Before I answer anything to say I’m in favor of something like this, I’ve got a lot of homework to do to make sure we cover all the bases and that we’re going to be protecting the city and that the assets are going to be in the best interest of the city,” Fewell said. “If I have to do just sewer and water, I’d have to think.”
Gary McDaniel, councilman, said sewer and water utilities don’t bring in as much revenue as electric.
If NineStar doesn’t grant permission, Fewell asked Frey if Redwood would look at other properties within city limits. Frey agreed. Multiple city council members also said they are in favor of the housing project if the utilities issue can get resolved.
“The project I like,” Fewell said. “The project’s not the problem.”
Redwood started in 1991 in Ohio and has since grown to oversee more than 10,000 units across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and will soon to be in Illinois and Kentucky. Some of the Indiana apartment locations include Westfield, Noblesville, Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Plainfield and Danville, Frey said, and Redwood is working on projects in Greenwood and Columbus.
