A three-story building at the corner of Sherman Avenue could see an extension that revitalizes a few older garages at the site and creates a rare affordable housing unit in a low-rise neighborhood.
Earlier this month, property owner Cesar Arredondo presented plans to the Riverview Neighborhood Association for land he owns at 74 Bowers Street. Working with Carlo Enzo of New York-based Urban Office Architecture, the scheme is hoping to revamp and enlarge the structure into a six-unit property with spaces that are all intended to be sold as condominiums.
The first floor of the building, currently occupied by a retail space, would be converted into a live/work unit under the proposal. All the potential condos at the elevator building would sport two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the project would expand the Sherman Avenue side of the property to line up with the neighboring Bakery Lofts.
Five garages at the lot would be torn down to build the expansion, which would include three off-street parking spaces on the first floor. The addition would rise four stories and 46 feet and include a top-floor penthouse slated to be set back and feature a private deck.
A common roof deck for residents of the building spanning 812 square feet would be built under the plan, as would a substantial green roof. The property’s basement is slated to have both storage for tenants and underground water retention tanks to assist with water runoff during storms.
The expansion of the building would eliminate curb cuts for two of the property’s current garages, creating a few on-street parking spaces for the neighborhood. The proposal needs to be granted at least one variance for height to move forward and could potentially need another related to density.
Arredondo submitted plans to the city regarding the proposal in January last year, but the zoning board has not set a date to hear the application.
