A proposed downtown New Kensington student housing development took a first step toward reality by gaining approval from the city’s planning commission.
The commission voted, 4-0, Tuesday to approve a plan put forth by Jake Lydick, a downtown businessman. The plan would convert three vacant Fifth Avenue properties — 713, 715 and 717 — into an apartment building.
Those properties would be integrated with adjoining properties at 721 and 723, which would provide a “maker space,” for students interested in creating a business, and a 22-space parking lot.
Lydick owns Eye-bot Aerial Solutions and Patriot Technology Holdings nearby in The Corner, a business and technology incubator, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street.
He has to obtain a special-use exception under city ordinances because the properties in question are zoned for commercial, not residential,…
