Martin and Merritt Project Needs Your Support at Planning Commission Meeting.
Critical Planning Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 12th - Your Voice Needed
We need your immediate attention and support for a critical development in the Martin and Merritt mixed-use project that has been three years in the making.
Current Situation
The Planning Commission has recommended APPROVAL for the Martin and Merritt project, which is a significant milestone after extensive community input and project modifications. However, we've just learned that Council Member Terry Vo plans to appear at Thursday's Planning Commission meeting to speak in OPPOSITION to the project, despite the professional recommendation for approval.
What's at Stake
This mixed-use development represents a transformative opportunity for our neighborhood, featuring:
Boutique hotel (Aparium brand, 160 keys maximum) providing jobs and economic activity
Affordable housing for artists (150 units maximum) preserving our creative community
Ground-floor retail spaces (7,500 SF) supporting local businesses
Martin Street Plaza for community events
Pocket park and revitalized 20-foot alleyway with landscaped buffers adding green space
Underground parking reducing street congestion
Preservation of vintage millworks maintaining neighborhood character
Enhanced sidewalks and pedestrian improvements along Hamilton Avenue
The Facts
Over the past three years and through 12 community meetings, SomeraRoad has:
Made over 1,000 modifications to address community concerns
Reduced building height significantly
Eliminated the controversial Hamilton Street access
Reduced the overall number of units
Committed to funding sidewalk improvements
Provided detailed economic justification for all project components
Most Recent Collaborative Efforts and Final Project Revision
In the final phase of planning, SomeraRoad has worked extensively with:
NDOT (Nashville Department of Transportation):
Coordinated on alley and driveway connections
NDOT approved connecting the alley to Merritt over the Hamilton option
Received official transportation department input on traffic flow solutions
Immediate Neighbors:
Direct collaboration with residents bordering the project site
Three residents living directly across from the proposed location are extremely vocal supporters
Addressed specific concerns of those most directly impacted by the development
Incorporated feedback from those who will experience daily interaction with the project
Active Engagement with Council Member Terry Vo:
Ongoing direct communication and collaboration attempts
Provided requested documentation including detailed hotel economics letter from Aparium
Addressed every specific concern raised during her tenure
Made additional modifications based on her feedback
Demonstrated willingness to work collaboratively on all feasible requests
Final Project Revision - Securing Neighborhood Support
Most Recent Submission (Case No. 2025SP-005-001) represents the culmination of three years of community input:
Reduced Scale After Community Concessions:
Hotel reduced to 160 keys maximum (down from original proposal)
Building height capped at 6 stories (responding to height concerns)
Total building square footage: 325,000 SF maximum (including all uses)
150 residential units maximum (balanced density)
Underground parking (addressing street parking concerns)
Enhanced Community Benefits:
Martin Street Plaza for community events and gatherings
Pocket park and revitalized alleyway (20-foot width with 4-foot buffers)
Sidewalk improvements along Hamilton from Hagen to Pillow
Ground-floor retail spaces (7,500 SF) supporting local businesses
Affordable housing for artists preserving neighborhood character
Technical Compliance:
Follows Wedgewood Houston Community Character Policy maximum recommended zoning
Consistent with T4 Urban Mixed Use Neighborhood designation
Meets all Metro zoning and stormwater requirements
Professional architectural and engineering review completed
This final revision secured overwhelming neighborhood support through meaningful concessions while maintaining project viability.
Community support is strong: Support letters significantly outnumber opposition letters, and the majority of residents at recent meetings have voiced support for moving forward, including those most directly affected by the project. The final project revision (Case No. 2025SP-005-001) secured overwhelming neighborhood support through meaningful concessions while maintaining economic viability.
CM Vo's Opposition Despite Extensive Collaboration
Despite active collaboration and good-faith efforts to work together, Council Member Vo is opposing the project based on her demand to reduce the hotel from the current 160 keys to 125 keys. However:
The developer has extensively addressed this concern:
Economic reality: Hotel economics require a minimum of 150 keys to be viable
Already reduced: The final submission shows 160 keys maximum - a significant reduction from the original proposal
Professional confirmation: Aparium (the hotel operator) provided a detailed, thoughtful letter explaining operational efficiencies and economic requirements
Industry standards: Hotels under 75 rooms typically don't perform well; Aparium prefers not to invest in projects under 150 keys
Collaborative response: When asked for documentation, SomeraRoad immediately provided the requested letter from their hotel partner
CM Vo's response to collaboration efforts:
Dismissed the professional hotel operator's detailed economic justification with "I don't believe that response"
Minimal impact difference: The difference between 125 and 160 keys has negligible impact on traffic, noise, or neighborhood character
Moving goal posts: Despite addressing every other request over three years and reducing the hotel size in the final submission, this demand threatens the entire project's viability
Why This Matters Now
Thursday's Planning Commission meeting is critical. If the project doesn't move forward:
We lose a significant economic development opportunity
The vacant lot remains undeveloped
Years of community input and developer investment are wasted
Our neighborhood loses planned amenities and improvements
Your Voice is Needed - Thursday, June 12th
Planning Commission Meeting Details:
Date: Thursday, June 12th
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Howard Office Building, Sonny West Conference Center (1st Floor)
Our project: Item #8-10 on the agenda (early in the meeting)
How You Can Help
Attend the meeting if possible - your physical presence demonstrates community support
Speak during public comment (you'll have the opportunity if there's opposition)
Stay informed and share accurate information with neighbors
Contact other council members to express support
What to Say if You Speak
If you choose to speak at the meeting, consider mentioning:
Your address and length of residence
You will be asked to fill out a short “Request to Speak” form
Specific benefits you see from the project
How the developer has responded to community input
The professional recommendation for approval should be respected
The economic benefits to the neighborhood
Your support for moving forward
Speaking to the Commission: Anyone can speak before the Commission during a public hearing. A Planning Department staff member presents each case, followed by the applicant, community members opposed to the application, and community members in favor. Community members may speak for two minutes each. Representatives of neighborhood groups or other organizations may speak for five minutes if written notice is received before the meeting. Applicants may speak for ten minutes, with the option of reserving two minutes for rebuttal after public comments are complete. Councilmembers may speak at the beginning of the meeting, after an item is presented by staff, or during the public hearing on that Item, with no time limit. If you intend to speak during a meeting, you will be asked to fill out a short “Request to Speak” form. Items set for consent or deferral will be listed at the start of the meeting. Meetings are conducted in accordance with the Commission’s Rules and Procedures.
Key Messages
Professional recommendation: Planning staff recommends approval after thorough review
Comprehensive collaboration: Three years of input and modifications, plus recent intensive work with NDOT, immediate neighbors, and CM Vo demonstrate exceptional responsiveness
Neighbor support: Those most directly impacted - residents living across from the project - are strong supporters
Technical approval: NDOT has provided official approval for transportation solutions
Economic necessity: Project components are sized based on economic viability and industry standards, not arbitrary numbers
Good faith efforts: Developer has consistently worked collaboratively and provided all requested documentation
Neighborhood benefits: Jobs, amenities, and improvements outweigh concerns
Majority support: Community support significantly outweighs opposition, including from those most directly affected
Moving Forward
If the Planning Commission approves the project despite CM Vo's opposition, it will move to Metro Council for three readings. We'll need continued community support throughout that process.
This is our chance to support a project that will benefit our neighborhood for decades to come. The planning professionals have done their job and recommend approval. Now we need to ensure our voices are heard louder than political opposition.
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or if you need more information about the project details or meeting logistics.
Thank you for your continued support of responsible development in Wedgewood Houston.
Together, we can ensure this beneficial project moves forward.
This email is from concerned residents supporting the Martin and Merritt development. For project details, click here.
