Project’s lack of off-street parking, ownership raise concerns
By Michele Leivas
Some Riverside residents and business owners are voicing concerns over a proposed rezoning application that would allow row houses to be built on a narrow strip of land along Stockton Street that is owned by Delores and Wayne Weaver.
Introduced in July, Bill 2024-0539 seeks to rezone the 0.23-acre parcel of land in front of the John Gorrie condominiums for the development of five, two-story row houses. The project does not include on-site parking and would require its residents to use existing street parking – raising a red flag for neighbors and business owners who say parking along the busy corridor is already at a premium.
“[Small businesses] want growth,” said Scott Crawley, owner of Focus Physical Therapy. “We just want it done in a smart, deliberate way that’s addressing our concerns as well.”
Crawley said that in the 20 years he has been at his Stockton Street location, he has seen the area evolve and come into its own as a thriving business corridor and residential area. But the dearth of available parking already impacts his patients and his business, he said, and he fears the row house project’s lack of off-street parking would only exacerbate the situation.
The right to develop
The property’s ownership also has been called into question. According to county records, in 2015 a declaration amendment was filed to the John Gorrie Condominiums ostensibly to correct scrivener’s errors. At that time, the row house parcel was separated from the condominium’s property. County records indicate the parcel is now owned by John Gorrie Investment Group, LLC, which state records indicate is managed by the Weavers.
Attorney Sean Walsh, who owns a unit in the John Gorrie condominiums, questioned those changes.
“I do think there’s a threshold of ownership here,” Walsh told the city council and Land Use and Zoning Committee.
At its August meeting, the Planning Commission suggested some parking spaces be reserved from the condominium’s parking lot for these row homes to alleviate the impact on street parking. But John Gorrie HOA President Kellie Perkins said the HOA had not been contacted regarding such an arrangement, nor would it be possible.
“All of our parking spaces are deeded to each of the owners, so there are no extra parking spaces even if we wanted to be neighborly about it,” Perkins said.
Both the Planning Commission and Planning and Development Department recommended approval of the project. According to the Planning and Development Department’s report, the parcel in question is already zoned as a PUD that conditionally allows 95 multi-family units and commercial and office uses.
Riverside Avondale Preservation Executive Director Shannon Blankinship said while the proposed row house project would create a “less intensive” use than the parcel’s current zoning, the worries over parking are valid.
“The concern over parking is a real one and one that we wish there was a better solution for,” Blankinship said.
The Resident reached out to applicant representative Greg Matovina for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
