Zoning board tables mixed‑use convenience‑store plan at 324 Henry Street; applicants told to refile as commercial

The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals resumed a previously tabled public hearing on April 1 for an application seeking a use variance to convert 324 Henry Street into a mixed‑use building with a convenience store and a single apartment.

Applicant representatives presented financial information the board had requested at the prior meeting. Matthew Verghese, who prepared the cost breakdown, told the board the work required to convert the space back into two residential units would be ‘‘just under $500,000’’ — he cited an itemized estimate of about $489,000 and said required mechanical, fire‑separation and life‑safety upgrades make residential conversion financially onerous. By contrast, applicant testimony said outfitting the property as a convenience store would require much lower startup costs — applicants estimated roughly $20,000–$30,000 for fixtures and equipment — and argued a…