Historic district restaurant and spa project cleared for in‑lieu parking payment for 27 South Swinton

The board voted May 7 to recommend the City Commission accept an in‑lieu parking payment for Swinton Social at 27 South Swinton Avenue, a project that will adaptively reuse four contributing one‑story structures within the Old School Square Historic District.

Why it matters: in‑lieu parking fees allow adaptive reuse of small historic buildings in downtown areas where required on‑site parking is infeasible. The payment helps the city and CRA manage parking supply while allowing rehabilitation projects that revitalize historic cores.

Project summary: Jennifer Madiello Ferrara, agent for Icon Development Group and owner Anthony Schafer, told the board the site contains four contributing buildings; the proposed program requires 53 parking spaces under current code. The applicant has seven on‑site spaces and an off‑site valet lot at 104 Southeast First Avenue with 26 spaces (unity of title), leaving a shortfall of 20 spaces. The applicant said they had exhausted options to lease or purchase other nearby land and noted the project will also create three public on‑street spaces by removing existing driveways.

Staff and legal context: staff reviewed the property’s history and the city’s in‑lieu fee structure (Resolution 14‑24 amended in‑lieu rules). Under the Land Development Regulations, nonresidential conversions in historic districts may seek in‑lieu parking payments; the board must find the request compatible with the comprehensive plan and LDR criteria.

Recommendation and vote: the board voted to recommend approval to the City Commission. Roll call: Chris Cabeza, Ezra Craig, John Miller and Jim Chard voted yes; Carol Perez and Vlad Dumitrescu were absent; Peter Dwyer was recorded absent for this vote. The agent recorded the total in‑lieu fee for the 20 spaces as approximately $263,000 (per resolution area fee schedule).

Implications: the recommendation allows the applicant to proceed toward final approvals and building permits while providing funds to the city’s parking programs. The board noted the project would restore four vacant contributing buildings and add restaurant and spa uses that contribute to downtown activity.

Next steps: the recommendation will go to the City Commission for final approval of the in‑lieu payment and associated site plan permits. The applicant will coordinate final technical site plan details and meet any conditions required by the parking management advisory board and City Commission.