Last November, 7th Street Progress Partners received approval on their rezoning petition to build a 3- to 4-story 95-unit multi-family apartment complex on 7th Street between Pecan and Clement.

The complex will take over the land where the current Roy White’s Flowers building stands along with the adjacent empty lot. Businesses located next door, including Sandwich Max, Kim’s Cleaners, Family Dollar and the Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find/Starbucks/Crisp trio on the corner, will remain where they are.

In a community meeting for the rezoning petition last year the developer said the target market for the complex “would likely be high income earners and possibly an older demographic.” The estimated rental price per square foot is $1.70, and floor plans will include studio (640 sq ft), 1 bedroom (720-750 sq ft) and 2 bedroom (1,050 sq ft) units. All units are apartments but will be built to condo specifications and thus could be converted in the future. There is no retail space in the building plan.

Ground level units will have stoops and steps leading down to 7th Street, which will also be the main driving entrance and exit.People are pretty much furious about this addition to the neighborhood. Parking and traffic were the two biggest concerns raised by neighbors at the community meeting with many questioning the number of parking spaces (108) as well as the influx of traffic it will bring to an already congested area.

As for Roy White’s Flowers, they’re packing up to move…

I called Ed White (who owns Roy White’s Flowers) and BB&M, the architects behind the project, to try and get an estimate on when they’ll break ground but haven’t heard back from anyone. Rumor has it it’s pretty soon though.