A development group is making its way through the planning process with Lorain public officials as it seeks to build a multi-family apartment complex on West Erie Avenue.
Silverhills of Lorain would be built near the intersection of Kolbe Road and West Erie, near one of the city’s fire departments and Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital.
The plans call for 169 units in addition to six units in each of the planned six carriage houses, according to city planning documents.
The Lorain Planning Commission unanimously approved the plans for the complex in February and a public hearing took place March 20.
Seth Mendelsohn, of Silver Hill Development, fielded questions at the public hearing from not only the public, but also city officials.
Ward 8 Councilman Joshua Thornsberry said during the meeting he’s received a variety of comments from his constituents with about 50 percent supporting the project and another 50 percent opposition it.
Thornsberry said he has visited a few of the apartment complexes Spring Hill has already completed, such as one in Westlake.
“It was really nice,” he said. “It was well done.”
A few residents attended the meeting to share their opinions.
One woman said she didn’t feel the location of the apartment complex was a good choice due to the noise of the sirens from the neighboring fire station and hospital in addition to the railroad tracks that will be the complex’s neighbor.
The price of the apartments, which mostly are one-bedroom units, will range from $1,450 to $1,550 a month, Mendelsohn said.
Balconies will overlook Lake Erie and the residents will have garage or car-ports, he said.
Councilwoman-at-large Mary Springowski asked whether the company would accept rental “vouchers.”
Mendlesohn responded that vouchers wouldn’t be accepted and he didn’t anticipate that would change.
Many of the apartments will include “dens” as many people continue to work remotely, he said.
The company plans to have on-sight management which will be available during certain hours.
“Thank you so much for investing,” Council President Joel Arredondo told the representatives of the company.
Now, City Council must approve the project before it can move forward, officials said.
Once Council gives the project its nod of approval, the permitting process can begin.
After receiving the proper permits, the developer intends to build the complex within six to eight months, Mendlesohn said.
