Developers who are planning a $25 million housing project on South Plymouth Avenue will present their plans at a public information meeting on Thursday, February 8, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at St. Monica's Church, 34 Monica Street, hosted by the 19th Ward Community Association.

Buffalo developers plan housing for 400 University of Rochester students on the site of the former Spronz Metal plant.

"The concept calls for apartment-style living with private baths, air, and all of the amenities of living in your own space as opposed to being on campus in a dorm," says Ron Paprocki, the UR's senior vice president of administration and finance.

The project, if approved, is expected to be completed by September 2008 and will consist of five separate three and four-story buildings with 17 two-bedroom and 79 four-bedroom units. Parking will also be available, but students can get to the campus by using the footbridge to cross the river.

"This is an entirely private development with no tax dollars involved," says Barbara Sullivan, president of the 19th Ward Community Association. "That is a good thing. But they will be applying for a [zoning] change from R1 to R3, which is increased density."

The land, Sullivan notes, is prime riverfront property. "The city has been working closely with the developers and the UR to create a project that will fit in and complement the Brooks Landing project," she says.

The triangular shaped site is located directly across the river from the university, and the apartments will be available only to UR students. Public access to the riverfront will be maintained.

"Our biggest concerns are, how do you form this, how do you design this so it fits into the riverfront setting?" says Art Ientilucci, the city's director of zoning. "What material composition would they use? How will this look from across the water?"

Sullivan says residents will also want to discuss property-maintenance, safety, and supervision issues.