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Date: 12/27/2022
SPRINGFIELD – A new housing project from Spring Park Properties Inc. that will provide 24 one-bedroom housing units on Oakland Street received special permit approval from the City Council during their Dec. 12 meeting.
The housing development will take up 31,000-square-feet on 283, 293 and 291 Oakland St. Filipe Cravo of R. Levesque Associates discussed the project alongside applicants Michael Lemelin and Peter Plante of Spring Park Properties.
Cravo shared that the three parcels will be transformed into three buildings that contain eight housing units. Each of the parcels is currently vacant. They formerly were the site of three single-family homes.
“What is being proposed are three, new multi-family buildings, eight units each, four units per floor and each unit is a one-bedroom unit,” said Cravo.
Cravo said the property would feature three garages. One garage will feature 17 spaces, another with have seven parking spaces, and a maintenance garage will store various equipment. The development will also include 14 parking spaces adjacent to the property.
The development received letters of approval from the Planning Department and the Forest Park Civic Association. Cravo said the project is currently being reviewed by the DPW and will undergo minor, utility-based modifications from Spring Park’s plan to appease the DPW’s requests.
City Councilor At-Large Sean Curran inquired if Spring Park considered constructing larger units that could house more people.
In response, Lemlin claimed that there is abundant demand for one-bedroom apartments. He said that the 24 single-bedroom housing units, which will be 380 square feet each, already garnered over 100 interested applicants.
“The call for one-bedroom apartments is in abundance right now. We have over 100 applicants for this specific project,” said Lemlin.
In addition, Lemlin revealed that the apartments will abide by market-rate pricing. He approximated a monthly rental rate of $950.
Lemlin approximates a $2.2 million cost for the project. Construction would begin in Spring 2023 and ultimately be completed within two years of breaking ground.
Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila considered Spring Park “a pleasure to work with.” He envisions the development adding essential housing to the Forest Park area.
“[They] have truly been a pleasure to work with as they ensure good quality housing for the neighborhood,” said Davila.
Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan expressed her support for the project. She considered the rental rates affordable compared to other housing projects in the city.
“To me, the $950 for a one-bedroom apartment seems reasonable … Right now, I have people who are paying almost $1,500 for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Springfield, which is not reasonable at all,” said Govan.
Curran shared concern with the compact density of the housing units. He advocated for Spring Park Properties to consider constructing fewer units that would then contain more space for families and other renters.
“The 24 units here for this particular parcel … In my opinion, that’s a lot of density in that area and it would be, at least from my standpoint, a stronger proposal if it was less units,” said Curran.
The City Council ultimately approved the special permit request in a 12-1 vote, with Curran representing the lone no vote.