The Area Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 27 approved three variances for a proposed expansion of a cooperative student housing facility at 800 Northwestern Avenue (formerly nonconforming, recently rezoned to R3U). The petitioner (A Company LLC, represented by Kevin J. Riley) requested: (1) an increase in allowable building height to 42 feet; (2) a reduction in required automobile parking from 57 spaces to 22; and (3) elimination of the required 5‑foot no‑parking setback on the north and south side lot lines. APC staff described the site, explained why staff recommended denial (difficulty meeting the UZO hardship tests; scale of proposed expansion relative to lot size), and identified options the petitioner might pursue to meet standards without variances. The petitioners gave testimony that the expansion is needed for accessibility/upgrades, code-compliant exits and ADA adaptability and that they had engaged with Purdue, the city, and historic-preservation stakeholders. The board cast seven ballots for each variance; results recorded in the hearing were: variance 1 (height) 7‑0 yes; variance 2 (parking) 6‑1 yes; variance 3 (no‑parking setback) 7‑0 yes. All three variances were approved.

Petitioner materials included site plans, renderings, and letters of support from the city, Purdue and preservation groups. Petitioners said they attempted multiple designs to increase parking (including below‑grade parking) and cited an existing parking policy for the cooperative that restricts resident vehicle storage. Staff and petitioners said required driveway and stormwater permits would follow special-exception or ILP approvals and thus remained outstanding at the hearing. The board’s approvals allow the petitioner to seek required improvement location and building permits consistent with the approved variances.