Developer Doug Tharp hopes Reid Health doctors will find two duplexes along U.S. 27 in the Fair Acres addition attractive places to live.
Despite neighbor concerns about putting new rentals in the addition, Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals granted Tharp two variances Jan. 14 that remove zoning obstacles for the duplexes. A variance of use to permit duplexes in the medium-density, single-family zoning passed 3-2, then a variance of development standards needed for one of the two driveways was approved 5-0.
Tharp said he plans to combine four properties that have not been developed since the addition’s 1953 platting into two properties. One duplex with garages would be constructed on each property. Tharp said he will invest $1.2 million and expects $1,800 monthly rent per unit.
When the developer renovated 21 N. 15th St. into the Crosley Lofts apartments, he discovered Reid personnel hesitant to live there because of parking constraints. Tharp decided to find land closer to Reid where the housing could include adequate parking.
Tharp decided on duplexes because the Indiana Department of Transportation took highway right of way land from the properties. INDOT also will not permit any driveways from the properties onto U.S. 27. The duplex driveways will be on the east end of the properties, with one leading to Crescent Drive and the other to Fairacres Road.
About 20 people attended the BZA meeting, with 10 Fair Acres residents sharing with the board their opposition to the variances.
Erica Decker, who owns a home across U.S. 27, thought the project did not meet two criteria required for granting variances: an unnecessary hardship or a condition peculiar to the property. She said the lot sizes and driveway issue are known conditions and the zoning restrictions do not mean the land cannot be used, only “it can’t be used in the way that the applicant prefers for it to be used.”
Other neighbors opposed rental properties mixing with single-family homes. They expressed concerns that rental properties would not be adequately maintained and whether rental properties would lower their property values. Brenda Dingwerth said she was “thoroughly against” rentals on the properties.
“It’s kind of personal to me that you would want to put a rental in a homeowner area,” Dingwerth said. ”To me that does not make any sense because of the in and out.”
Several neighbors also worried about how the duplexes would impact flooding that occurs during rains. BZA approval is a first step, with other approvals, including a drainage plan, required before the project continues.
“I just hope that people who make decisions for other people and it affects their lives make good decisions for people in a positive way, because I don’t like it when people make decisions they don’t have to live with,” Elizabeth Haskett said.
Planning staff recommended the board approve the variance of use, finding that there is hardship and peculiarity and that the duplexes would not negatively impact use and value of neighboring properties. Joanne Buroker, the city’s zoning administrator, read from the staff report that INDOT’s reduction of lot sizes and refusal to permit driveways make it difficult to build four single-family homes on the lots.
After the 3-2 vote that permits the duplexes, the Fair Acres neighbors left the room before the driveway vote. The driveway leading south is planned to access Fairacres Road within the minimum 16 feet of another driveway that leads to outbuildings on the neighboring property. The gap would likely be between 10 and 15 feet.
Tharp also received a variance of development standards for the Crosley Lofts downtown. He plans to hang a vertical “Crosley Lofts” sign that projects from the building and is visible from North 15th and North A streets. The variance was necessary because the sign would project from the building.
A version of this article appeared in the January 21 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.