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Adaptive reuse of former Nordstrom building to 112 rental units continued to Sept. 9 for design refinements
Summary
Brownstein Hyatt and ShopOff presented a conversion plan creating 112 rental units in the former Nordstrom building under the city's adaptive‑reuse ordinance; commissioners strongly supported the approach but asked for revised window details, clearer sections for ground‑floor units, and deeper reveals to preserve Spanish‑Colonial character before returning Sept. 9.
The Historic Landmarks Commission heard the city’s first adaptive‑reuse project under the November 2025 ordinance: a proposal to convert the former Nordstrom building into about 112 rental units with an internal three‑story courtyard carved from each floor to bring light into the deep plan.
Lead presenter Sarah Bronstad said the proposal looks to retain the building’s principal rooflines, tower and corbel details while adding new fenestration, Juliet balconies and a courtyard of roughly 7,000 square feet per floor to create daylight and air for the new units. "The intent is to provide residents with a place for respite, reflection and informal gatherings," Bronstad said of the interior courtyard.
Commissioners were uniformly positive about adaptive reuse as a housing strategy but raised several design and technical issues they want fixed before final approval: unclear ground‑floor sections showing how units meet the sidewalk, the amount of glazing vs. white plaster wall (several commissioners asked for deeper wall reveals and less transom glazing), refinement of Juliet balcony details so they read as usable or be removed if purely decorative, more detailed structural substantiation for courtyard cut‑outs (applicant said LFA structural engineer confirmed parameters), and courtyard materials/finish details including slip resistance for proposed tile.
Given the comments, the commission continued the item to a date‑certain hearing on September 9 and asked the team to return with revised sections and elevations that address window proportions, sill heights, wall reveals and the relationship of ground‑floor units to the public sidewalk.
