Norwood planning board approves special permit to convert former Bank of America into eight apartments and retail

The Norwood Planning Board on Jan. 27 approved a special permit and site plan to renovate the former Bank of America building at 699 Washington Street into mixed commercial and residential space, including eight apartments and ground-floor commercial space.

The application, filed by JKM Property 4 LLC and presented by attorney Phil Mackey, sought relief under the town’s Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) and site plan review provisions so the vacant bank building could be retrofitted for three two-story townhouse units in the rear, a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments on the second floor, and commercial space at the front and basement. The board also approved three waivers the applicant requested and attached conditions requiring stormwater infiltration details and future signage review.

Board members and staff said the project preserves the building’s exterior and historic character while reactivating a central Norwood corner. Planning staff and several members of the Norwood Historical Commission spoke in favor of the application during the public hearing, calling it a respectful adaptive reuse of a notable 20th-century bank building.

Applicant presentation and what was approved Phil Mackey, attorney for the applicant, told the board the project preserves the building’s exterior and inserts apartments and modest commercial spaces inside. He said the design keeps the facade and overall footprint unchanged, adds two new rear doorways to service two townhouse units, and creates eight residential units overall with additional basement commercial space. Mackey asked for waivers including a reduced commercial frontage (about 52 feet where 60 is required), allowing less than 10% of the lot as outdoor amenity space, and a waiver of drainage calculations because town engineering expects to remove pavement and add infiltration features. "The facade of this building isn't changing," Mackey said during the presentation.

Owner Sean Murphy described the project as a small, father-and-son real estate firm’s effort to preserve a familiar corner of town. "I actually opened my first bank account in this bank," Murphy said, adding the team brought in an architect experienced with adaptive reuse.

Public comment and staff recommendations Members of Norwood’s Historic Commission, including Cheryl Doyle and Toni Esco, testified in support, noting the building is listed in the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) and urging preservation of interior features where feasible. Doyle said the commission viewed the project as "the best project that has come before the board because it's keeping the building intact."

Planning staff recommended conditions if the board approved the permit. Staff and the town engineer Mark Ryan asked that stormwater infiltration to capture at least a half-inch of roof runoff be required and inspected during permitting. Staff also recommended that any signage proposed after renovation return to the board for minor review and that the board include a condition preventing creation of interior bedrooms that would not meet building-code egress requirements without returning for review.

Board votes and conditions The board voted on each waiver individually and then on the special permit and site plan: - Waiver for reduced commercial frontage (approx. 52 feet where 60 is required): approved by roll call, 5–0. - Waiver to allow under-10% outdoor amenity area as shown on the plans: approved by roll call, 5–0. - Waiver to omit formal drainage calculations (conditioned on the town engineer's concurrence): approved by roll call, 5–0. - Parking: the board found the site provided adequate parking for the residential component (board recorded 16 spaces available and 11 required for the residences) and accepted the applicant’s parking configuration in the vote, 5–0. - Special permit (MUOD) approval with conditions including: design and preservation of the exterior, stormwater infiltration meeting the town engineer’s requirements, return to the board for signage review, and a condition preventing interior conversions to bedrooms that would not meet code egress windows/egress without returning to the board: approved by roll call, 5–0. - Site plan review approval (separate vote): approved by roll call, 5–0.

What remains and implementation notes The project includes some follow-up steps before building permits and occupancy: the applicant agreed to work with the town engineer (Mark Ryan) to finalize stormwater infiltration details; the fire department noted items that will be addressed in building permit review (sprinklers and two separate permitting steps with fire); and the building permit process will govern electrical, trenching, and any utilities work. Planning staff recommended the board require that future exterior signage return for minor review.

The project team said they would continue to work with the planning department, the building inspector and fire officials on permit conditions and code items. The applicants told the board they obtained a waiver to use a chairlift in lieu of an elevator for handicap access and that interior basement and vault work remains under assessment.

The board’s approval is subject to the standard conditions noted at the meeting and the site-specific conditions voted on Jan. 27.