Grand River Walk LLC recently presented Painesville officials with a revised plan for its proposed development overlooking Kiwanis Recreation Park after encountering financing challenges with the initial plan. The city Planning Commission approved three motions related to the new plan at its October meeting, though some commission members expressed reservations about the changes. The new proposal is for a four-story building at 257 E. Main St. with 110 residential units, residential amenities, a restaurant and outdoor dining space, according to documents that the developer submitted to the city in September. The plan removes one floor, 10 residential units, the majority of the commercial space, a parking garage and a breezeway that were included in the proposal that the planning commission reviewed in April 2023. Marous Development Group Development Director Jon Sines said that the company worked on the revised proposal with city staff and City Council. Grand River Walk is part of Marous’ project portfolio. “These adjustments stemmed from financing challenges, including higher interest rates and a need for additional private equity, as well as Painesville’s market conditions,” Sines said in an email. “Reduced retail space reflects the local market conditions in Painesville, where lease rates for new construction must exceed those of existing spaces.” While the 2023 proposal included more than 18,000 square feet of retail space, the new proposal instead includes a 4,300-square-foot restaurant space and a 2,800-square-foot outdoor dining area. Sines highlighted the proposed terrace. “The redesigned terrace will extend toward the park even further, focusing on outdoor dining and offering views of the future amphitheater, creating a vibrant dining and entertainment atmosphere,” he said. For the residences, the developer has proposed 11 studio apartment units, 89 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units. The smallest studio units would measure 550 square feet, and the largest two-bedroom units would measure 1,111 square feet. Rent prices are set to span from “just under $1,100 per month to over $1,600 per month,” developer documents stated. Sines added that residents would be able to access a ground room lobby and fitness room and an outdoor patio, pool and grilling station. Residents are intended to have access to 122 on-site parking spaces and 26 parking spaces available at nearby 8 N. State St. under a shared parking agreement, said Painesville Planning Director Sarah Sitterle. Restaurant patrons would have access to 42 spaces at Grand River Walk and other nearby city spaces, including 8 N. State St. Sitterle told the commission that staff recommended waiving the requirement of two parking spaces per residential unit, which staff deemed “excessive,” and setting it at 1.35 per unit instead. They also recommended reducing the number of required restaurant spots from 61 to 41. She indicated that there will also be walkways connecting Grand River Walk to both 8 N. State St. and the proposed amphitheater at the bottom of the hill, near the Grand River. Planning Commission member John Brad Deane expressed disappointment at the removal of the breezeway. The 2023 plan showed an open walkway running through the building’s first floor, connecting a terrace overlooking the river to North State Street. “That stood out as something visually spectacular, and to be able to walk through there, to be able to oversee the Grand River valley, to have the amphitheater, I mean, that really sold me on that plan,” Deane said. City Manager Doug Lewis later said that city staff and City Council members shared Deane’s concerns. “We feel it’s a very important development for the city of Painesville in the fact that it’s still keeping some of the commercial portion of the project, which is the restaurant, which is really the big draw from what council and staff considers a reason to go down,” Lewis said. City Councilwoman Christine Shoop said that council had “come to terms with the development” during the public comment portion of the planning commission meeting. “It will be a showcase on there,” she added later. “Even if it’s not the same, it will be a wonderful showcase up there on that hill.” The motion granting the development’s conditional use permit was approved 3-1, with Deane against and commission members Evan Rosborough, Jim Fialko and Mark Wainwright in favor. Rosborough expressed hesitancy with his vote. “If it is the wishes of council and Mr. Lewis, I will vote yes here,” Rosborough said. “I mean, if that is the case, but I don’t think it’s the right decision.” He said that he understood the financial difficulties but added that the new proposal “doesn’t even resemble the initial dwelling.” “I do feel like you only have one opportunity with, the city only has one opportunity with this to get it right, and once ground’s broken on the project, there is really no editing what has been, or no altering what the plan is, and so I mean that drives a lot of my hesitancy in this situation,” Rosborough added later. When there was discussion of tabling another Grand River Walk motion for a future meeting, Rosborough asked Sines if postponing the vote would affect project timelines. After some discussion, Sines said that it would endanger the project, and the commission decided not to postpone the vote. All four present commission members then voted in favor of the second and third motions, which approved a revised agreement and the new architectural review and preliminary site plan. Deane later added that he appreciates the investment in the city. Sines added that construction is expected to start in spring 2025, as long as it receives necessary city approvals by then. City Council is set to introduce a revised development agreement for the project at its Oct. 21 meeting.