First buildings of Redhawk Commons housing are nearly finished

Students seeking off-campus housing near Southeast Missouri State University soon will have another option.

Construction of the first five buildings of the Redhawk Commons apartment complex at 1112 Bertling St. is almost complete.

Roofers were hard at work Tuesday morning while balanced on top of one of the new buildings. Bricks are going up as well.

Developer Brandon O. Williams said the apartments — 20 one-bedroom suites and 20 two-bedroom suites — likely will be ready May 1.

The availability of these apartments will mark the end of phase one of the 23-building complex. Phase two will begin in the summer. Williams expects four phases altogether.

The second phase also will be built on Bertling Street, just beyond the new construction. Four lots have been prepared; one house will be demolished, and four buildings will be erected, Williams said.

Future phases will include a pool and clubhouse.

The complex ultimately will move beyond Bertling Street and onto nine acres on Old Sprigg Street Road, where more houses stand.

“We’ll grade all that out and build apartments on that,” Williams said.

Redhawk Commons has been in the works for years. In 2012, area residents were concerned about the repercussions of a large apartment complex in their neighborhood, fearing an increase in traffic and a potential for decreased property values.

For the complex to be built, the area had to be rezoned from R-1, which is single-family suburban residential, to R-4, medium-density family residential. Homeowners petitioned against the zoning changes and spoke against it at the a city planning and zoning commission meeting.

Ultimately, the area was rezoned, and the plans for Redhawk Commons continued. At the time, Wayne Bowen, vice chairman of the commission, said they were sensitive to the property owners’ concerns, but a rezoning would encourage growth and allow property owners to use their land.

“It seemed to be a stronger case to allow the rezoning to go forward, considering the overall serious shortage of high-quality, multifamily housing and the growth at the university,” Bowen said in 2012.

“I think it’s a great project,” Williams said. “I haven’t had any negative comments on the project since we had the property rezoned.”

Applications are being accepted for the first phase of the complex.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1112 Bertling St., Cape Girardeau, MO