Proposed “Student Oriented Housing” at Kohl’s Location

Proposed “Student Oriented Housing” at Kohl’s Location

A site plan has been submitted to the City of Flagstaff’s Community Development Department to build a 5 story, approximate 330,000 sq ft multi-family residential building at 500 W. Forest Meadows in West Flagstaff. This is currently the location of the Kohl’s Department Store.

I talked with the developer’s representative and also with the City of Flagstaff on this proposal.  The developer’s representative told me that their intention is to work with the City of Flagstaff and with Kohl’s to find the store a new location in the community.  They told me they “understand Kohl’s is a cherished store within the community”.

I reached out to Kohl’s locally and they referred me to their corporate offices and I have not heard back from them yet. 

(from Flagstaff Planning Department)

So here’s what’s been submitted to the City and is currently under review:

 

• The developer is proposing to demolish the existing Kohl's building to accommodate a new horizontal mixed-use development on the 10.18 gross acres.
• A one-story 4,800 sq ft commercial building is planned at the southeast corner of the property near Forest Meadows Street.
• A 5-story, approximately 330,000 sq ft multi-family residential building is planned near the center of the property, partially overlapping but slightly south of the existing Kohl's building footprint.
• Most of the existing mature landscaping will be preserved. Parking will be surface parking spaces.
• The multi-family building has approximately 300 units. These are planned to include micro, studio and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom units.
• The building will be a maximum 65 feet in height.
• There will be two interior courtyards.

 

The city also said, “The applicant has submitted a Site Plan and city staff has provided the first round of comments. We anticipate a Site Plan re-submittal soon.”

This is a by-right property meaning that the building entitlements are already in place and that the developer will not need to go before the Flagstaff City Council for zoning code amendments. 

The concept plan was already approved. Concept plans are usually used to determine viability of a project and allow for due diligence before getting too deep into a project. Site plans are much more detailed and typically indicate a serious commitment to a project due to the costs and time involved.

There have been several large student oriented housing projects in Flagstaff that have opened in the past several years. There is a large student housing project across the street and the project is close to NAU.  The developer’s representative indicated a target opening date of Summer 2023.

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