The Zoning Board of Appeals approved a plan to convert the historic Cherry & Webb building at 139 South Main St. into up to 70 market-rate apartments with accompanying commercial space, contingent on conditions including maintaining commercial storefronts along South Main and securing a set number of off-street parking spaces.

Developer Carolyn Hirth, representing Little Tiger Capital LLC, presented renderings and a unit mix intended to attract young professionals: 26 studios, 27 one-bedrooms, seven one-bedrooms with dens and eight two-bedroom units. Hirth said the team intends to preserve historic interior and exterior features and include building amenities such as a rooftop deck, in-unit laundry and a basement amenity suite.

Zoning relief before the board included a variance to allow first-floor residential use where the bylaw bars it, a special permit to continue use of an existing nonconforming structure and a waiver of off-street parking requirements. The board approved the variance and the special permits but clarified a condition requiring commercial use on the South Main Street frontage. The board also required the developer to secure 70 off-street parking spaces for the development (the developer indicated the Pearl Street municipal garage is a likely source), with spaces to be dedicated to the project and secured by contract within a reasonable walking distance of the building.

Attorney Peter Salino, counsel for the applicant, argued the proposal is less parking-intensive than potential commercial uses now occupying the building and that the project would revitalize an underused historic structure. The board asked for clarity about ground-floor uses and sight lines; preservation groups and economic-development officials supported retaining commercial activity along the South Main frontage. Alexander Silva of Preservation Society of Fall River told the board he supported residential conversion above the first floor but opposed converting the building’s South Main ground floor to residences, saying “such a change would have a large negative impact on the future of the downtown economic corridor.”

Planning staff and board members discussed parking management in detail. The applicant offered to secure 70 spaces in off-street facilities; board members said that condition, and a requirement that storefronts on South Main remain commercial, addressed their primary concerns about detriment to downtown activity. The board approved the variance and special permits by roll call, with votes recorded as yes by a majority of members.

The approval requires the developer to complete site-plan review, provide proof of secured parking (contract or permit) for the 70 spaces, and comply with building and health permits before occupancy. The board noted that if the Pearl Street garage or other municipal parking is used, long-term arrangements (passes or an RFP, as used in prior downtown projects) may be necessary.