Commission gives direction, continues proposed 67-unit Stephenson adaptive-reuse project to Oct. 20

Staff introduced case 2010.0948X and explained the project would convert a 4‑story, 42,600 square-foot industrial building in Mid‑Market into mixed-use housing with 67 units (including 10 on-site affordable units), 8 off-street parking spaces, and requests for rear yard and exposure exceptions. The zoning administrator will consider the variance associated with dwelling unit exposure.

Project representatives said the site is an appropriate location for workforce/affordable housing and emphasized transit access. Commissioners and members of the public voiced substantial concerns: several commissioners described many proposed units (quoted in plans as small as about 250 sq ft) as bordering on 'warehousing' and objected to the project being placed on consent without public discussion. Concerns focused on unit exposure (light, air and code-compliant exposure), the large share of units that would require exposure variances, the small size of many units, and the viability of the ground-floor commercial space. Staff and sponsors discussed courtyard design constraints and structural column locations; sponsors indicated they could revise unit layouts, provide better renderings and consider modest changes in unit sizes or counts to reduce variance requests.

Commissioner Antonini moved (seconded) to continue the matter to October 20, 2011 with instructions that the sponsor address exposure, unit layout/exposure, and provide improved design renderings and consideration of the commercial ground-floor space. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The zoning administrator's variance hearing was also continued to Oct. 20.