Columbia Heights makeover advances with 'workforce' condos

Address: 4729 Grand Av. NE., Columbia Heights

Type: Multifamily

Units: 148

Developer: Dominium

Architect: BKV Group

Details: Plymouth-based apartment developer Dominium bought a vacant site in Columbia Heights where it plans to construct Grand Central Flats, a 148-unit affordable "workforce" housing complex.

Records show Dominium paid $1.2 million to the Arizona-based owner of the vacant 5-acre site, which is part of a larger 14-acre redevelopment zone established in 2003 to replace a Kmart near the intersection of Central and 47th avenues NE.

Three 60-unit condo buildings were originally planned, but only one was built before the 2008-2009 recession. The remaining two spots were released from the condo plan in 2010 and, after a contentious city approval process, are now set to host a pair of apartment buildings.

Dominium originally proposed 173 units in a pair of four-story structures. After challenges from the Grand Central condo owners over density and parking issues, the firm reduced the size to 148 units. The mix will include 61 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom and 42 three-bedroom units, all affordable to residents making 60 percent of the area's median income.

Dominium Construction & Architectural Services LLC will serve as the general contractor on the project, which is expected to be completed by early 2019.