LARAMIE — Outwardly, things were pleasantly normal downtown in this historic Wyoming city late Thursday morning with the typical low-key bustle on a bright, although slightly chilly, May day.
But just under the surface is bubbling an undercurrent of unrest in the Gem City as of late. A proposal to build the five-story, 88-unit Landmark Square apartment building right in the heart of downtown has upset many. And even more so because they feel the proposal was sprung on them without advanced notice.
Along with upsetting what’s one of Wyoming’s most storied historic Western downtowns are worries that the apartment building will suck up already-scarce downtown parking and discourage people from visiting area businesses.
Without Notice?
“It was as if it was dropped on us without warning,” Ruth Willams, owner of The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House & Tea Shoppe, told Cowboy State Daily.
Some downtown business owners claim they were given no advanced notice of the Landmark Square proposal being discussed during a Laramie City Council work session April 24.
In an email to Cowboy State Daily, Albany County Conservancy Executive Director Anne Brande stated that, “many, like myself, didn’t find out about it until yesterday afternoon (April 24).”
The council will further consider the proposal during its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 7 at the Laramie City Hall.
Laramie Mayor Brian Harrington told Cowboy State Daily via email that the city wants to keep business owners and residents in the loop, and nothing will be pushed through without public input.
“I understand why folks feel caught off guard by this,” he said. “There is no way to bring this type of proposal to the public softly. We chose to bring the public in at the very earliest stage, to educate the public about the details of this project alongside the council.
“The council has not taken any action on this and won't until May 7, giving the public two full weeks to digest the information and reach out to councilors with their thoughts. If we need more time to consider this, we will take it.”
Parking, Parking, Parking
At the Sugar Mouse, customers were starting to trickle in, lured by the scent of fresh-baked goodies. Williams explained that her business, like others downtown, relies heavily on walk-in customers.
And a steady supply of walk-in customers hinges on one thing.
“Parking,” she said.
“That’s our biggest beef with this whole thing. Parking is already in short supply in downtown Laramie,” Williams said.
Tage Beason, along with his wife, co-owns the Owl in the Attic antiques store. He told Cowboy State Daily that he is also concerned about how a new apartment complex of that size in the lot behind his store could affect parking.
He said he understands the need for more housing in Laramie, but wonders why the city couldn’t pick another site, perhaps a little farther south on 2nd Street.
“Why build it right here in the middle of the downtown area?” he said, adding that a site to the north “would still be within easy walking distance of downtown.”
A Lot That Means A Lot
If it’s built, the building will take up a sizable section of the Bolton lot, which runs along 1st Street behind the Coal Creek Coffee Co. coffee house and Coal Creek Tap brewery.
There are 284 parking spots in downtown Laramie, 80 of which are in the Bolton lot, according to the city of Laramie.
The Landmark Square building could include roughly 60 indoor, climate-controlled parking spaces — available to tenants for an additional fee, according to information presented during the April 24 work session.
The developers would add an additional 20 outside public parking spaces to help mitigate the parking deficit.
The Bolton lot is more than just parking spaces. It’s a favorite community gathering place.
People huddle together there during Christmastime or University of Wyoming Homecoming events. And crowds will spill over into the lot during downtown farmers markets, Jubilee Days or other warm-weather happenings.
Among other problems she has with the apartment building, Billie Eckhardt told Cowboy State Daily that she wonders if the lot is even a structurally appropriate place to for a project of that size.
“It’s becoming apparent to me that this lot will not be able to sustain a building of that size because of the water table,” said Eckhardt, who owns the Bent & Rusty antique, furniture and interior design store.
The rear of her store faces the Bolton lot.
Much-Needed Housing
The Landmark Square building would house studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units and would target demographics such as UW students or people older than 50.
Harrington said the city is trying to address an clear need for smaller-unit housing in Laramie, while also considering locals’ concerns about new construction in the heart of downtown.
“The council is working to find solutions that begin to address our housing crisis in a way that also respects private property rights and conserves Laramie’s vibrant downtown,” he said. “As we consider this proposal, I've heard clearly that we should also be considering parking downtown at the same time.”
The Laramie Main Street Alliance (LMSA) supports the proposal. LMSA Director Trey Sherwood was traveling and unavailable for comment, but she sent Cowboy State Daily a copy of the organization’s letter of support.
LMSA states that Laramie needs more housing, particularly downtown. And more residents downtown would mean more potential customers for businesses there.
“Downtown residents support homegrown economic development and a robust economy by spending their income in locally owned businesses that are walkable from their living unit,” the letter says. “In addition, residents are the first to know and spread the word about new and expanding businesses. They are vested in the success of the district, either as workers or consumers, reinvesting in the place they call home.”
Laramie’s Housing Study 2030 calls out the need, and market demand, for additional housing units downtown: “A total of 92 units, consisting of 18 owner and 74 rental housing units, should be created in downtown Laramie, by 2020. By 2030, a total of 210 units, consisting of 38 owner and 172 rental housing units, should be created in downtown Laramie.”
‘Keep Downtown Historic’
A draft conceptual image of the apartment building didn’t seem to match the aesthetics of downtown Larame, Harrington said in a video recording of the work session.
The developers will produce an updated conceptual design that better matches the surrounding historical buildings.
Eckhardt said she’s concerned that the Landmark Square project could be part of a larger pattern to “gentrify” Laramie, or perhaps turn it into a “sanctuary city” for refugees.
It’s vital that downtown’s traditional atmosphere be honored, Williams said.
“We want to keep down town historic,” she said. “And that (the draft illustration) isn’t historic.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
