Southwick House has taken the latest step towards providing transitional housing to residents in need following the Emporia Planning Commission’s monthly meeting Tuesday night.
As part of their agenda, planning commissioners approved a transitional housing conditional use permit for the property at 115 East Logan. Southwick is in the process of purchasing the 6.8-acre tract and 9,000-square-foot residence with plans to turn it into a residential space with 14 congregate rooms and two non-congregate units.
The venture has gained a large amount of support from residents in the area and other local agencies and entities. This includes SOS which was represented at Tuesday’s meeting by Executive Director Mickey Edwards who has been involved with the reformation of Southwick following the closing of Plumb Place in 2020.
Edwards says transitional housing is a needed resource for the community.
Also showing support for the agency is the Kretsinger family, which owns the property, and has entered into an agreement with Southwick for the purchase of the property according to a news release from Southwick Executive Director Susan Brinkman. Southwick Board President Jeremy Dorsey says once the property is up and running, a timeline for which is still pending, it will operate similar to Plumb Place.
The conditional use permit will go before Emporia City Commissioners for final approval at their next regular meeting on Friday, June 7.
In other business, planning commissioners approved the rezoning of 518 Market Street from single-family attached to civic/public use status. The property will house the new Emporia Fire station which will have several notable updates from the current facility including expanded space for evolving equipment and technology.
Emporia Fire Chief Brandon Beck says this is a major step for the project, however, there are still many miles left to go before they reach the finish line.
In addition to the new facility, the fire station project will include significant improvements to an alley in the area, serving as the main entry and exit point for fire engines and ambulances.
Planning commissioners also approved a rezoning request for 518 South Congress to close out Tuesday’s meeting. As with the Southwick matter, both rezoning requests will go before the Emporia City Commission next month for final approval.
