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Owner proposes adaptive reuse and basement parking at 108 Olley Street; architect shows five‑space simulation
Summary
Canela Tavares LLC seeks a special exception to convert a vacant building at 108 Olley Street into four apartments above commercial space and to use a basement garage for five parking spaces; an architect and structural/parking simulation showed maneuvering but acknowledged limited turning room requiring backing out to Olley Street.
Applicant Canela Tavares LLC, represented by counsel Joan London and member Alvin Canela, presented plans Nov. 12 to adaptively reuse 108 Olley Street for four apartments above a first‑floor commercial space and to provide five basement parking spaces accessed via an existing ramp from Olley Street.
Canela described the building as vacant and in need of full rehabilitation. Architect Mark J. Schlacy (Schlacy Architects) testified the submitted plans show a preserved front façade, no change to the building footprint or height, and unit sizes that meet the city’s minimums (four units consisting of two‑ and one‑bedroom layouts). Schlacy said the basement could accommodate five parking spaces with 9‑by‑18‑foot stalls and a maneuver aisle; the submitted simulation shows vehicles entering via a ramp and noted that cars would have to back out of the garage to exit onto Olley Street.
Board members asked about structural columns and what changes would be made during renovation; Schlacy said a new structural system with reinforced concrete columns and protections would be installed and that the submitted simulation reflects the redesigned column layout. Zoning staff said the parking request is less than previous proposals and that the submission of a parking simulation was at staff suggestion to better illustrate maneuverability. The board closed testimony and said decisions will be issued next month.
Why it matters: The proposal would return a long‑vacant downtown building to active mixed use and relies on a nonstandard basement parking layout that the applicant asks the board to accept as part of adaptive reuse.
