A Lakeland developer is pushing forward with a determined plan to develop North Massachusetts Avenue in a way that would change the city’s skyline.
Gregory Fancelli is designing a multi-story, mixed-use development at 313 N. Massachusetts Ave.
The project’s first draft focuses on ground-level commercial space that Fancelli said could be used for retail, cafes, bars, and potentially restaurants. There would be onsite parking along the backside of the building.
The upper stories of the building would consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Unlike many downtown multi-residential projects, the drafted plans show a higher number of two- and three-bedroom units from 761 to 1,246 square feet.
Fancelli said he hopes to utilize the rooftop of the building as an event space, restaurant, or bar, providing a view of the city while maximizing the use of space.
Fancelli has filed litigation against the city for denying its use as a bar and special events venue in January 2023.
Fancelli has spent years acquiring the property along the 300 and 400 blocks of North Massachusetts Avenue.