ZBA approves residential conversion at 401 W. Ontario

The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a set of variations for an office to residential conversion planned at 401 W. Ontario. Planned by Monroe Residential Partners LLC, the four-story office building stands midblock along W. Ontario St between N. Orleans St and N. Kingsbury St.

Designed by Westfield Architects, the residential conversion will replace the existing ground floor retail space and office space on the upper floors with 57 residential units. The project will have 57 bike parking spaces and zero car parking. 

On the ground floor of the building, the residential entry and loading dock will face W. Ontario St. The remainder of the ground floor will be occupied by 12 residential units. In the basement, the project will have residential amenities including a resident lounge, TV lounge, fitness room, and bike room. Four residential units from the ground floor will be duplex down units into the basement. 

On the upper floors, each level will have 15 residential units. The project’s total unit mix will include three studios, 42 one-beds, and 12 two-beds.

To allow for the scope of the project, the developer is seeking a series of variations including a variation to reduce the minimum required off street parking spaces for a transit served location from forty to zero, a variation to allow for alternative compliance from the minimum required 2,252 square feet on-site open space, and a special use to establish residential use below the second floor.

With ZBA approval secured, the developer can move forward with permitting and construction. A timeline for construction has not been announced.