An apartment project at the former Elder-Beerman site can now officially include first-floor and studio units.
Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved in a Dec. 18 meeting televised by Whitewater Community Television a variance from the 700-square-foot minimum unit size and an exception for the first-floor apartments in the central business district zone.
Developer Flaherty & Collins Properties plans a four-story, 150-apartment complex that also includes retail space along East Main Street. Eleven of the units are planned as studio apartments that are 540 square feet.
Vanessa Shumate, an architect for American Structurepoint, told BZA members the project wants to provide diversified housing options at a number of rent prices. Residents will have access to a lounge area, small cafe, fitness area and courtyard that includes a pool, Shumate said.
The first-floor apartments will be along Sixth Street, across the south side of the development and along a small portion of Seventh Street. Shumate said those apartments are requested rather than expanding upward another story.
Both requests passed with 3-0 BZA votes.
A planned assisted-living facility along Chester Boulevard received 3-0 approval to reduce the minimum unit size to 350 square feet.
Marian Development Group LLC, which is based in Louisville, plans a four-story, 118-unit facility at 1901 and 1907 Chester Blvd. The plan includes 50 studio units with about 350 square feet of space and 68 one-bedroom units ranging from 521 to 689 square feet.
George Sowers, a Richmond attorney representing Marian, said the facility provides services in common areas, making the smaller units sufficient in size. During the staff reports, Joanne Buroker, the city’s zoning administrator, said The Springs already has 355-square-foot units and The Leland Legacy has 490-square-foot units.
Another 3-0 approval permits Cierra Bennett to operate a floral shop with walk-in retail sales from an accessory building at her residence, 2036 Salisbury Road S.
A version of this article appeared in the January 1 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.