JACKSON HOLE, WYO – A movement that is underfoot to upzone a historic block on East Broadway has neighbors pitted against neighbors, and small businesses worried they’ll get the heave-ho if a zoning change and pending sale go through.
The block comprises 135 and 175 East Broadway Avenue. Both owned by Max C. Chapman Jr. under differing LLCs. It includes popular eateries like Cafe Genevieve, Persephone’s Bakery, and Healthy Being Juicery. It is also home to the Van Vleck House (now Café Genevieve), which is rife with Jackson history.
In fact, it was this historical significance that convinced town planners to back off a more growth-aggressive approach to the block during a recent town-wide rezoning effort. The block was designated UC (Urban Commercial) instead of DC (Downtown Core). And that’s where this story begins.
The announcement of a public meeting organized by a mysterious group referring to itself as Deloney Street LLC has met with considerable flack judging by the defacement and addendums to signs placed in the area under consideration.
Deloney Street is the limited liability corporation Chapman is working the 135 E. Broadway parcel under. He calls 175 E. Broadway “BWD Street LLC.” Both lots are up for sale for a combined $25M.
Deloney Street LLC has listed officers including former finance chair of US President George W. Bush’s presidential campaign, Mercer Reynolds III, who worked with Chapman on the Bar-B-Bar development. Across the street neighbor and owner of Kismet Rug Gallery, Jafar Neishabouri is also an officer of Deloney Street LLC.
The pending real estate deal is reportedly contingent upon whether Chapman and company succeed in wrangling an upzone for property out of the town planning department. Chapman’s investment company Gardner Capital has also promised the Historic Preservation Board they will guarantee historic structures remain if they can get a zoning change.
DC zoning would allow a developer to build taller buildings, from 35 feet max now to 46 feet tall. There are also density and housing bonuses that would make a project more financially viable.
The town could not confirm whether it has scheduled a meeting about the rezone at the planning commission or town council level.
There will be a public meeting Sept 6th at 3:00pm held by Deloney Street LLC at 610 W Broadway Suite 204 to learn more about the proposal.
Historic block is on the block. Crucial piece in Broadway shuffle
