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Design Review Committee approves conversion of 1511 W. Franklin into apartments
Summary
Evansville City Design Review Committee approved an application to renovate a Jacobsville warehouse at 1511 West Franklin Street into about 56 apartments, preserving existing brick, replacing windows, adding new metal siding and lighting, and resolving parking shortfalls before permitting.
The Evansville City Design Review Committee on Jan. 28 approved an application to convert a warehouse at 1511 West Franklin Street in the Jacobsville redevelopment area into residential apartments.
The project, presented by architect Jason Barasano of LA plus D and graduate architect Kaylee Metcalfe, would convert roughly half of the existing structure into about 56 units of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio apartments while retaining and highlighting the building's original brick exterior.
Committee members said the project advances housing supply in Jacobsville while preserving character. A Design Review Committee member said, "The project looks good. I'm excited because more housing. We need more housing." The committee voted to approve the application by voice vote; there was no recorded roll-call vote in the transcript.
Barasano described exterior work that would leave the brick largely intact while replacing the building's single-pane, frosted grid warehouse windows with insulated storefront vision glazing. An attached, nondescript metal portion of the structure would receive new ribbed black metal siding and matching suspended entry canopies at two access points. Exterior accent lighting was shown in the submittal and will be similar to fixtures used on the opposite side of the building.
Barasano said signage will not be part of the current submittal and likely will return for separate review. He also said the interior design will reuse several salvaged elements, including an existing elevator and large fire doors.
On parking, the architect referred to figures on the site plan and said the project currently shows "211" parking spaces but that the area plan has requested four additional spaces; he said the team expects to add the required spaces. The transcript audio of those numbers was unclear at points; exact final parking counts and locations were not specified in the record and will be determined during permitting with area planning.
Barasano said the team has state approval and is pursuing city approvals; he said construction was intended to start as soon as budgeting is finalized and estimated a construction schedule of about 18 months with an opening in 2026, subject to permitting and financing.
The committee chair confirmed the committee's sign-off and directed the applicant to continue the process with area planning and permitting. No formal conditions or written amendments were read into the record during the meeting.
Next steps listed by the applicant and chair include submittal of the committee's paperwork to area planning for permitting, finalizing parking adjustments requested by area planning, and a future signage submittal if required.
