Olathe City Council has given the green light to a new townhome development aimed at addressing the city’s ‘missing middle’ housing gap. The project, named ‘The Row at the Uptown,’ will feature 44 townhomes and commercial space on a 5-acre site at the southeast corner of 133rd Street and Black Bob Road.

Addressing Affordable Housing

The development is designed to provide more affordable housing options for Olathe residents. According to the city’s comprehensive plan, ‘Elevate Olathe,’ the average home appraised value in Olathe is $437,657, and about 43% of renters are ‘cost burdened,’ meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

The townhomes will be priced under $500,000, which is below market value. Developer Jib Felter worked with city staff to determine the density needed to make the homes more attainable. The development will require about $3 million in infrastructure, but increasing the number of units allows those costs to be divided amongst more homes, lowering the selling price.

Project Details

The project will include two commercial buildings totaling about 5,000 square feet at the entrance. Five buildings surrounding the retail spaces on three sides will house the 44 townhomes. The three- and four-story townhomes will feature ground-level entries and built-in elevator shafts, allowing buyers to install elevators or convert the space into closets.

The development will be designed with French Renaissance-inspired architecture and is intended to be walkable. It will also have three active open space areas. The townhomes will be available for sale and rent.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.