Commission approves Merit 7 conversion: 400,000 sq ft of office to 300 apartments, including 27 workforce units
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Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a major conversion at Merit 7 to turn roughly 400,000 sq ft of office space into 300 apartments, with 27 workforce units in perpetuity, reduced parking and new amenity spaces; staff and consultants reported a net drop in vehicle trips and conditional department sign-offs are required prior to permits.
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a proposal to convert two Merit 7 office buildings (101 and 201) into 300 apartments, create extensive outdoor amenity space on the parking deck and retain a smaller number of parking spaces.
Attorney Lisa Feinberg and a team of architects and engineers described the project footprint as just under 6½ acres and said the conversion repurposes roughly 400,000 square feet of office space into 300 units (56 studios, 182 one-bedrooms and 62 two-bedrooms). Feinberg said the developer will designate 27 units as workforce housing "in perpetuity." Architect Jake Randolph and the team described interior amenity spaces and about 55,000 square feet of outdoor resident amenities replacing much of the deck; total parking would be reduced to about 895 spaces with 23 EV spaces and 30 bicycle parking spaces under the canopy.
Traffic consultant Colleen Byrne presented trip-generation work using the ITE manual and DOT data, and reported a net reduction in weekday vehicle trips when office trips are credited against residential trips: "we have a reduction in trips, when we convert from office to residential," she said, estimating a decrease in morning and afternoon peak-hour trips. Engineering and conservation sign-offs were reported as conditional; the fire marshal required reinforcement of parking-deck areas to support apparatus access and the applicant confirmed they will reinforce the deck and address TMP and DPW comments prior to building permits. The commission moved and approved the site plan with standard department sign-off conditions (CEAC), including the fire-marshal requirement.
