An old warehouse building on the corner of Ewing and Sixth streets in Seymour is being purchased with plans to renovate the second floor into apartments.
The property at 900 N. Ewing St. is currently owned by Clark and Gwen Brown of Seymour.
On Sept. 12, the Seymour Plan Commission voted 9-1 to approve the Browns’ request for a conditional use variance to allow the second floor to be built out into four or five apartments. The building is zoned C-1 (commercial-local business).
Commissioner Dave Eggers cast the dissenting vote.
Clark Brown said the upstairs of the building is more than 5,000 square feet and empty. He has a buyer interested in purchasing the entire building along with two houses on each side.
“He noted there is a lack of affordable apartments,” Brown said of the potential buyer. “If he buys it, he wants to develop that into apartments.”
Before the project moves forward, Clark said the buyer will have to present plans to the city for approval.
Commissioner John Reinhart said the building does not have sufficient parking for apartments.
To address the need for parking, two of the garages behind the building would be removed, Clark said.
“He also talked about knocking down 305 Ninth Street,” Clark said. “He understands that there has to be adequate parking, one for safety and the other is they won’t rent if they can’t park.”
Commissioner Gary Colglazier said he was concerned with apartments going above garages because of the potential for fumes from exhaust.
Clark said only one of the garage bays is currently being used to fix cars. The others are used as flea markets and for upholstery work, he said.
The request will be heard by the city’s board of zoning appeals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.