19-Oct-20 – Plans appear to be afoot to add three floors of commercial space to the east side of Newberry Plaza, but some building residents feel they’re being left out of the conversation.

Residents of the mixed-use building say their condo board has gone silent, refusing to answer their questions. They believe the plaza is being taken from them and transferred to the commercial developer, 11 East Partners, LLC.

In exchange for 10,000 square feet of space, which residents say is worth about $10 million, the developer appears to be giving Newberry Plaza Condominium Association an amenity room that will connect to an outside deck overlooking the pool.

(Above) Proposed design (left) and current design (right).

According to a statement from unit owners, the Newberry Plaza condo board has been working for two years on a redevelopment project that would increase commercial space at the expense of residential common elements.

“Many residents in the building are distraught over the financial benefit for the commercial developers and emphasis on the commercial aspect of the building, and the negative design impacts on the residents of the building,” said the owners.

Owners say they were encouraged to vote for the deal without seeing details of the design, and at a condo board meeting on September 29, which lasted six minutes, board members refused to answer their questions.

“There is a group of us who would be fine with supporting the board and 11 East to further develop commercial space in the plaza building, but for the right deal and the right design,” said unit owner Michelle Meyer. “Right now, they are just taking advantage of the owners and the current deal is terrible, and the current design is clearly meant to enhance the commercial value of the building to the detriment of the residential value and living.”