Following the urban planning committee’s approval Wednesday, a local developer will convert three floors of office space above Espresso Royale and Winter Silks, located respectively at 222 and 224 State St., into apartments.
The renovation will introduce a total of 15 bedrooms dispersed throughout nine apartment units, each with its own indoor bicycle storage area and balcony.
In addition to the interior modifications, the developers plan to modernize the outside of the building by replacing the orange paneling currently in view of State Street pedestrians with beige, wide-brick masonry and a continuous three-story-tall bay window.
The Urban Design Commission also gave final approval to a proposed five-story building at 425 W. Washington St. called “The Washington Plaza,” that will include 50 apartment units, totaling 64 bedrooms, and create spaces for Capital Fitness and John Bonsett-Veal Optometry to move into.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said although the building is geared toward young profesionals, it is likely students will live there as well.
Erik Minton of Capital Fitness proposed the development approximately a decade ago, according to Verveer, but due to extenuating circumstances, the project was delayed.
Of the three proposed designs over the years, Verveer said the most recently approved design is “the best.”
The Washington Plaza architect John Holz said the building will feature an “interactive terrace” the entire community can enjoy, with seating and green landscaping, to offset the rest of the block, which is predominately asphalt.
The UDC also approved designs to renovate the Longfellow School, located at 210 S. Brooks St., to create more housing in the Greenbush neighborhood.
Both the Washington Plaza and Longfellow School projects will be presented to the Plan Commission on Sept. 16 and the city Council on Sept. 16 for final approval.
