Lang proposes five-story apartment building for Old Barksdale Road

The site was formerly home to Boulden Brothers, which moved to Sandy Brae Industrial Park. A music studio is currently using part of the Boulden property.

Plans call for a five-story building with parking on the first floor and a total of 54 two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors.

The project includes the required 108 parking spaces – 49 under the building and the rest in an exterior parking lot.

Developer Jeff Lang said Boulden approached him about buying the property because Lang Development already owns the Madeleine Crossing apartments next door.

“It’s a really nice addition to South Main Street,” Lang said, noting that the new apartments would be replacing an industrial site. “We think it’s a much more appealing use of the property.”

On Tuesday, the planning commission recommended city council approve the project, which requires a rezoning from BC (general business) to BB (central business district), comprehensive development plan amendment, major subdivision and special-use permit.

Meanwhile, an unrelated development plan for adjacent land is also making its way through the city’s development approval process.

Developer Hal Prettyman is proposing to build a seven-story apartment building as well as townhouses on a 1.5-acre property in front of the Lang site.

The apartment building would contain 54 two-bedroom apartments and front on South Main Street. Behind it, Prettyman would build seven three-story townhouses. The project would include 104 parking spaces but also requires a 25-space parking waiver.

In order to build the project, Prettyman is proposing to combine 178, 182 and 186 S. Main St. and 528 Old Barksdale Road and demolish the existing buildings. The South Main Street parcels contain two houses as well as a few small outbuildings and are being used to store old cars, construction equipment and other junk. The Old Barksdale Road parcel contains a one-story retail building that is home to the Ace of Fades Barbershop and Zo’s Auto Detailing.

That project has yet to be considered by the planning commission or city council.