Thomas MacMillan Photographs
813 Chapel.
What happens if you want to renovate a downtown building constructed years before people drove cars, and turn the building into apartments? Better find off-street parking.
Or you have to get a special exception from the city.
Fernando Pastor, who represents the Pike International real estate development company, opted for the second option. He appeared before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Tuesday night to ask for zoning permission to create new apartments at two properties in the 800 block of Chapel Street, between Church and Orange streets.
The board did not vote on the petition. It referred the matter to the City Plan Commission.
The buildings — at 813 and 841 Chapel St. — were put up over a century ago, when the need for off-street parking was just a glimmer in Henry Ford’s eye. Nearby buildings on the block are all contiguous with no empty space between. There’s just no place on the properties to park a car, Pastor told members of the BZA.
That’s the case for many — if not most — buildings downtown, but city zoning regulations nevertheless require that new dwelling units include one parking space each.
Pike would need 12 parking spaces between the two properties, either on-site or within 300 feet of an entrance. Pastor is asking the city to permit him to have zero.
The building at 813 Chapel St. holds the Karma night club, Golden Rock Grill, a check-cashing store, and yoga and dance studio on the second floor. Pike wants to put in up to eight one-bedroom apartments on the vacant second and third floors.
At 841 Chapel St., which is currently vacant on all three floors, Pike plans up to four one-bedroom apartments.
In his pitch to the board, Pastor pointed out that the units will have access to rooftop “terraces.” Zoning requirements state that each unit must have a minimum of 250 square feet of “usable open space.”
After the meeting, Pastor said the apartments will be unlike anything now on offer downtown. “We’re creating space into the building, bringing value to the architecture.”
He said the apartments won’t be “high-end” but will have hardwood floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. He said he doesn’t know the rental rate Pike will ask for.
The City Plan Commission will take up the parking question next week in advance of a final BZA vote next month.
of the four people that live in my apartment, one person has a car, and the rest of us bike or walk, and occasionally use zipcar or take mass-transit. many people that gravitate towards living in a city don't rely on cars. i absolutely think this parking requirement should be more flexible. if tenants are firm on needing spaces, they won't rent from him. others without cars, or those with a parking agreement elsewhere, will.