Sienna Restart on Council Fast Track

The long-stalled half-completed "Sienna" project on the east side of RIdge north of Davis (for old-timers, the site of the former Wieboldt's parking garage) is ramped back up, this time with the remaining half as apartments rather than the condos originally envisioned or the hotel subsequently proposed when the condo market went south.
 
On Planning & Development's agenda for tonight is the following: "Ordinance 77-O-11, Proposed Amendment to the Existing Approved Planned Development at 1100 Clark Street/1719 Ridge Avenue. Staff and the Site Plan & Appearance Review Committee recommend approval of the proposed amendment, Ordinance 77-O-11, to the existing approved planned development for 1100 Clark Street/1719 Ridge (Ordinance 5-O-04 as amended by Ordinance 125-O-05). Focus Development has proposed constructing a 175 unit rental development on the vacant lot that is part of the approved planned development commonly known as the Sienna Development. Suspension of the Rules is requested for Introduction and Action at September 12, 2011 City Council meeting."
 
 
Put into English, this means that the normal Committee action followed by two-meeting, two-reading Council consideration is being waived so that this project can speed through all in one evening. Obviously, the City has an interest in returning the empty lot to productive use. Hopefully the neighbors, especially at the existing Sienna condo complex, have been fully engaged in the process.
 
A copy of the ordinance is in the Packet for tonight and can be downloaded at the City website.