Tom Bailey

Memphis Commercial Appeal

A tentative compromise was reached Wednesday on the conflict over the proposed Overton Gateway apartments.

Developer Makowsky Ringel Greenberg (MRG) and representatives of three neighborhood groups or organizations met for nearly two hours Wednesday morning for discussions mediated by City Councilman Worth Morgan. The meeting took place at the law offices of Burch, Porter & Johnson.

The developer tentatively agreed to limit the height of the tallest buildings — at the corner of East Parkway and Sam Cooper Boulevard — to three stories, confirmed attorney Nathan Bicks, who represents MRG.

Many residents in the Lea's Woods Historic District, Hein Park and other neighborhoods felt the proposed four- or five-story buildings were too tall to blend well with the historic district of mostly one- and two-story structures.

MRG also tentatively agreed to add 16 parking spaces within the 7-acre development that flanks the north and south sides of Sam Cooper at East Parkway, Bicks said.

Lea's Woods neighbors had expressed concern that the developer did not plan for enough parking and that cars would spill over onto their streets.

Reducing the height of the tallest building to three stories shrinks the number of apartments by 19, or to 176 units instead of the 195 that had been planned.

The agreement remains tentative. The developer asked that the neighborhood groups and organizations support the amended proposal for the planned development when the City Council votes July 25 and later when the Landmarks Commission weighs whether the look of the apartments' exterior fits with the historic district.

The Land Use Control Board last month rejected the planned development after hearing a number of objections from Midtown residents. But the City Council has final say.

Vaughan Dewar, designated spokesman for Lea's Woods, participated in the mediation and said later Wednesday, "I have to go back and check with the stakeholders. I'm optimistic, I guess.''

Also participating were representatives of the Midtown Memphis Development Corporation and the Vollintine-Evergreen Neighborhood Association.

"It was cordial,'' Bicks said of the talks. "I thought Councilman Morgan did an excellent job. He was well prepared and well versed on the issues. He did a good job explaining the strengths and weaknesses of both cases.''

Dewar said of Morgan: "I'm extremely appreciative of his level of engagement and ability to help folks reach mutually agreeable understandings.''

Morgan pointed out that because Lea's Woods is not a homeowners association and has no "official leadership, we'll still have to talk to the neighbors there, gather support, maybe a petition.''

Dewar, Morgan said, "was good with the compromise.''

Morgan called the discussions "fair-minded and productive.''

"That's why we were able to reach a tentative agreement,'' Morgan said. "I think it is a win-win for both the local neighborhoods as well as the city as a whole and our growing needs."