Developer pitches 150‑unit AR Building apartment near Orchard Gateway; trustees raise parking and rent questions

AR Building Company presented a concept plan Dec. 1 for a 150‑unit, four‑story apartment building on Orchard Gateway Boulevard, directly west of the Clover senior apartment project. Jason Kambitsis, president of AR Development Company, said the firm builds and retains Class A apartments and described interiors with quartz counters, stainless appliances and in‑unit washers and dryers.

The project would include a mix of studios, one‑ and two‑bedrooms, a clubhouse, gym and pool. Kambitsis said the company prefers to provide 1.2 parking spaces per unit operationally but was requesting 1.5 spaces per unit and to land‑bank some spaces as grass that could be paved in the future if demand requires. “We’re asking for the 1 and a half just so we’re not building more parking than is needed,” he said.

Trustees pressed the developer on unit mix and rents. The developer estimated roughly 40 studios of the 150 units and said studios and one‑bedroom types would make up a majority of the mix; he suggested market rents for studios in the area were about $1,700 to $1,800 per month. Trustees expressed concern the emphasis on studios could raise density and asked for additional architectural detailing given the retail corridor setting.

Staff said the use is approved in the PUD but the project will return for engineering and site plan review, including planning commission consideration and a future board site‑plan approval. No formal approvals or votes were taken tonight; trustees gave general feedback and asked staff to continue coordination on access, sidewalks and final site design.