Mill Park Residents, Developers Clash Over River Street Apartments

Mill Park residents packed the community hall on July 7 to voice opposition to a 12-story residential tower planned for 45 River Street, with the city planning board set to review the application next month.

The timing coincides with Mill Park's ongoing push to add 1,200 new housing units by 2028 under the city's updated zoning ordinance, as local vacancy rates sit below 3 percent and median condo prices reached $412,000 in the second quarter.

Opponents from the Mill Park Residents Association, which meets monthly at the Oakwood Community Center on Elm Street, argue the project would overload traffic on nearby Maple Lane and strain the Mill Park Elementary School catchment, already at 94 percent capacity.

Developer's case for the project

Project sponsor River Street Holdings counters that the 148-unit building would include 30 affordable units priced at 60 percent of area median income and generate $2.4 million in annual property tax revenue once complete in 2029, funds the city could direct toward road repairs on River Street and expanded bus service along the Mill Park Transit Corridor.

Residents push back with infrastructure data

Association members cite a 2025 traffic study showing River Street already handles 18,400 vehicles daily, a figure that would rise 22 percent with the new tower, and point to recent sewer upgrades completed in 2024 that still left backups during heavy rains in the neighborhood.

The planning board will hold its formal hearing on July 22 at city hall, where both sides can submit written comments by July 15; residents can also review full site plans online through the Mill Park Planning Department portal.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.