Posted at: 03/03/2009 5:33 PM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 03/03/2009 8:30 PM
By: Jennifer Johnson, WHEC-TV

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Two developers submit plans for Midtown Tower

Two developers met a deadline to submit plans to the city for Midtown Tower and both plans include living space. City Hall looked at those plans Tuesday.

One plan is from Harmony Group out of New York City. It calls for 162 rental apartments on floors four to 17.
    
The one and two bedroom units would be 845 to 2,000 square feet and rent would start at about $1,000 a month. This plan would preserve the atrium and the historic character of the design but also include lots of glass for an open feel for 90,000 square feet on the lower floors. Shops and restaurants will be on the first and second floors with office space on the third. The price tag for this proposal is about $35 million.
 
The second design is from local developer Shane Bartholf of New Urban Living and Patrick Dutton of Charter Brokerage.  The plan estimate is between $35 million and $40 million.  The difference is bigger windows, which the developers hopes will provide more desirable views.
    
The first, second and third floors would be for shops, restaurants and office space. The upper floors would be for condos for sale ranging between $131,000 and $200,000.  Bartholf told News 10NBC her thinks there is demand from young professionals to own property instead of renting.  The 14th floor, the old Top of the Plaza Restaurant, be half a restaurant and half a resident-only fitness center.

Craig Jensen with Chaintreuil Jensen Stark designed both plans. He said, “I think in some version this will happen this will happen if the city is able to follow through on the things that they suggested they plan to be able to do.”    

Mayor Robert Duffy confirmed to News 10NBC the city is still dedicated to stripping this tower to its bones and removing asbestos. Jensen said the other part of this is the developing the whole 8-acre site which includes PAETEC.

There was talk PAETEC might take over the tower, but PAETEC was not one of those developers. The company insisted late last week it will still move its headquarters downtown.

The City says it will make a decision on these plans by the end of April.

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