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Commission preliminarily approves rezoning at Zion Baptist Church site for 100–120-unit multifamily project
Summary
After a public hearing the commission moved forward to establish Plan Development 195 and rezone 40 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd from MR5 to MMF, clearing a preliminary path for a proposed 100–120-unit, 4–5 story development that would preserve and adaptively reuse the historic Zion Baptist Church.
Planning staff and the applicant presented a rezoning and plan-development overlay request for property at the southeast intersection of Edwin C. Moses Boulevard and West Third Street (the Zion Baptist Church site). Staff said the applicant, Magnus Capital Partners, seeks to rezone the site from MR5 (mature single-family) to MMF (mature multifamily) with Plan Development 195 to allow approximately 100–120 residential units in two four‑ to five‑story buildings while preserving the historic Zion Baptist Church through adaptive reuse.
Jeff Green of the planning, neighborhoods and development department summarized the submission: the plan is preliminary and will return to plan board for final approval; the site is within the Right Dunbar historic district, which requires review of exterior changes and would protect the church structure from unilateral demolition; the concept includes roughly 155 parking spaces, provisions for bicycle parking and multimodal access via bus lines and river trails. Staff described adjustments to the original concept that preserved sightlines to the church, set building profiles along West Third Street and retained mature street trees where possible.
Commissioners asked whether units would include workforce or affordable housing and whether childcare might be provided. The Magnus representative said the majority of units are intended to serve households at 40–80% of area median income (workforce housing), and that, given site constraints, a childcare facility is not expected on this parcel. Commission members also discussed connections to Sinclair and multimodal and river access improvements; staff said those connections were being actively considered.
After discussion the commission approved (by emergency ordinance) amending the official zoning map to establish PD195 and change the underlying zoning to MMF at 40 South Edwin C. Moses Boulevard (ordinance 32190-26). Staff and the developer noted final site plans (elevations, landscaping and exact building placement) will return to the plan board and that historic-preservation review will apply to the church building.
Source: Planning staff presentation, Magnus Capital comments, and commission action recorded May 20.
