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Applicant for 721 Violet Street Agrees to Continue Triplex Request; Board Open to Duplex Alternative
Summary
The Norristown Zoning Hearing Board continued application 74‑25 to the February meeting after hearing testimony that the owner could not recently market the office space; the applicant agreed to provide cost figures and consider a duplex alternative.
The board continued application 74‑25, which seeks to convert a mixed‑use property at 721 Violet Street into a triplex (or alternatively a duplex), to the February regular meeting to allow the applicant to supply more documentation and pricing studies.
Attorney Edwin Leon said his client, owner Juan David Perez Lopez, purchased the mixed‑use property in August 2020 and had been unable to rent the ground‑floor office space despite attempting to market it; he said the owner used the office for personal business after it remained vacant. Architect Jeffrey Owens described the building as two stories plus a walkout basement and outlined proposed unit sizes: a 4‑bedroom, 1‑bath existing apartment (~1,400 sq ft), a converted commercial unit proposed as a 3‑bed/2‑bath (~1,400 sq ft), and a walkout basement unit (~900 sq ft) if a triplex is pursued. The architect said the site contains space for five rear‑yard parking spaces plus a single‑car garage (six total parking places including garage) and that each proposed unit would have individual entrances.
Board members repeatedly asked the applicant to substantiate claims of hardship with concrete evidence, marketing attempts, and cost estimates. Attorney Leon asked for a two‑month continuance to bring market analysis and pricing; the board agreed to continue the matter to the February meeting and the applicant said he would return with agent‑sourced rental estimates and expense details. The applicant also told the board he would consider a duplex as an alternative and signaled willingness to amend the application if appropriate.
No final decision was made on the variance at this hearing; the board’s continuance requires the applicant to submit objective documentation on recent leasing attempts and cost comparisons to support any future finding of hardship.
