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Council hears plan to add ‘group quarters’ use in downtown PO zone; applicants describe 'urban dorm' at 256 E. Center
Summary
Planners and an applicant team described a proposed amendment to permit 'group quarters' in a limited portion of the downtown PO zone and an adaptive‑reuse pilot at 256 East Center Street to create affordable, dormitory‑style housing targeting entrepreneurs.
City planning staff and an applicant team described on March 11 a proposed code amendment to allow “group quarters” as a permitted use in a limited portion of the PO (Professional Office) zone with frontage on Center Street. The amendment would allow a narrow three-and-a-half‑block area to host dormitory- or boarding-style housing — private rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms — intended for longer-term stays (proposed leases of a year or longer).
Planner Hannah Saltz said the use already exists in the city’s land-use vocabulary but was not currently allowed in any PO zone; staff proposed adding it to a targeted stretch of Center Street but excluding properties on the historic registry. Saltz said the case before council is an adaptive reuse proposal for 256 East Center Street: the building was formerly an assisted-living facility and the applicant proposes about 20 private rooms, some private bathrooms, and shared restroom and shower facilities. The project team, Tom and Anders Taylor, described the concept as an “urban dorm” or startup incubator aimed at entrepreneurs who need lower-cost private rooms and communal amenities; they said leases would be at least one year and that they plan robust screening, on-site management and maintenance.
Councilors and residents raised concerns about perception, parties, parking and the ratio of private bathrooms to rooms; staff said the project provides more bathrooms in total than many shared apartments and that no short‑term rental uses would be allowed under PO zoning. Some neighbors wanted clarity on overnight guest policies and whether the project would encourage transient or homeless populations; the applicant and staff said leases and contracts would prohibit short-term stays and overnight guests.
Saltz told the council the proposal was consistent with city goals for small-scale redevelopment, adaptive reuse of existing buildings and affordable housing near downtown and transit. The item was placed on the evening council agenda for formal consideration; staff did not request immediate action at the work session.
