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Castlewood concept plan for 700 North draws questions on parking, residential mix and affordable-housing funding
Summary
Castlewood Development’s 700 North concept plan — proposing mid-rise residential, retail frontage and an Encompass Health rehab building — generated questions from commissioners and residents about parking, the share of residential without a confirmed retail anchor, and use of a 5% RDA tax increment for affordable housing.
Community development staff presented Castlewood Development’s concept plan for the 700 North area at the Jan. 13 Linden Planning Commission meeting, summarizing two primary development areas and resident feedback.
Staff reported the west portion’s concept includes about 156 residential units with retail or restaurant frontage, a roughly 1-acre park area and space for an anchor tenant or grocer; the east portion was described as containing about 136 units and a small drive-through pad site. Staff also identified an Encompass Health facility shown on the concept (two stories, described as a short-term rehabilitation provider) and said the developer indicated a construction start in 2027.
Residents and several commissioners raised concerns about parking adequacy, the amount of residential planned without a confirmed major retail "anchor," and neighborhood impacts. Staff noted the development’s parking ratios meet city code: the west area was described as providing 312 stalls where 312 were required (staff said "312 provided") and the east area providing 313 stalls where 297 were required. One resident urged more trees along the south property line rather than removing an existing 6-foot concrete wall; another attendee requested a library in the new area.
Commission discussion focused on whether the city should require a development agreement that reserves a specified number of affordable units or whether the city should seek an anchor tenant itself before allowing a high proportion of residential. Staff flagged that the Linden Village redevelopment area (7 Hundred North RDA) collects a 5% tax-increment set-aside required by the state for affordable housing and said the city needs to determine how to use those funds over the coming years.
Staff also summarized other takeaways from the public outreach: architecture expectations for higher-end facades, stage location concerns (noise and proximity to residences), and preferences for greater tree buffering. The developer reported options for amenities (water features, stage, swings) and said some residents favored swings in the park area.
No formal land-use approvals were sought or taken for the Castlewood concept plan at this meeting; the presentation was described as a concept review and informational. Commissioners were directed to forward comments to the City Council and to consider development-agreement terms and parking and affordable-housing commitments in future reviews.
