NEW BEDFORD
IRAKLIY SHONIYA ARCHITECTS
Сonversion | Location: New Bedford, MA,USA | Project Year : 2021
Existing Conditions: The 21,348+ SF, four-story, brick exterior structure is located in the Whaling National Park in the center of the Historic District. The historical edifice, constructed at the turn of the century, is an existing, non-conforming structure occupying a land parcel consisting of 13,018+SF, located at the south side of Elm Street between North Water and Bethel Streets.
The subject property is comprised by two adjoining buildings; one was built in 1884 and the other was built in 1897. The building consists of a first, second and third stories with a basement. The building has a flat asphalt roof.
There is a small bituminous concrete parking area in the front of the building northeast. There are two existing curb cuts: one on Elm Street (north), and one on N. Water Street along the frontage of the site easterly. There is driveway access from both sides of the street frontages. Additionally, there is a third curb cut located in the rear of the building on Bethel Street.
The property is predominantly impervious with a small area of landscaping along the northern frontage located on Elm Street.
The property is situated in the heart of the historic downtown, approximately 0.3 miles north of the Whaling Museum. The surrounding area is characterized by commercial, retail, restaurant and residential uses in an Industrial A (IA) and (DBOD) zoned districts. Directly abutting south is Smithwick & Mariners Insurance and New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Directly across Elm Street north is the Standard Times/Bay Coast Bank. Further northwest is the Elm Street parking garage. Across North Water Street is the Candleworks Ventures, LLC parking lot. Directly across Bethel Street is the Livery Building.
The proposal is to convert the existing building into eighteen (18) residential units per plans filed. The proposal would include a complete interior renovation of the existing first, second and third stories into residential units. The proposal also includes the construction of a 2,185+ SF, gym located on the basement N↑ 3 ZBA Staff Report Case #4440 level and a new elevator or lift near the southwest corner of the premises that would service the residential condominium units.
The proposed residential dwelling would include (14) one-bedroom units and (4) two-bedroom units. In total, (18) residential units are proposed.
The application depictsthe proposed parking lot layout as providing sixteen (16) parking spaces; including one handicap accessible space in the rear located on Bethel Street. The applicant intends to close the curb cut along Elm Street to create the additional four proposed parking spaces.
The existing bituminous concrete parking area in the front of the building will be remain. The parking area will be sealed, and new parking lines will be painted. Additionally, the petitioner proposes to improve the green space by adding landscaping where the curb cut closure will occur.
