Planning commission OKs historic‑district alteration at 180 East Morgan Street to convert garage into retail space

The Martinsville Planning Commission on June 24 approved docket PC25009, a historic‑district application to alter interior and exterior elements of a building at 180 East Morgan Street for Red Brick Trading Company. Owner Ron Sandhaus said the project would finish out an existing two‑car garage on the building's north end and convert it into retail space, addressing a shortage of downtown retail units.

Sandhaus told the commission the space has been used to store cars for more than 15 years and that he and his contractor and architect are prepared to proceed. He said the space does not yet have an official street address and that he sometimes refers to it as 140 North Sycamore. Sandhaus said the design could accommodate either one larger retail unit or two roughly 1,100‑square‑foot units divided down the middle.

Planning staff confirmed the building department received required notices and a construction design release was included in the packet; commissioners who were absent at the prior meeting had since reviewed the materials. Planning Commissioner Steve Bodie moved to approve the historic‑district application; Ann Miller seconded the motion and the commission approved it.

The approval authorizes the changes presented for the building's interior and exterior under the historic‑district review but does not itself authorize tenant improvements, separate building permits or occupancy. The owner and contractor will proceed with permitting and construction approvals with the building department as required.