892 elmwood avenue

a fire on this property left the site empty--the only missing tooth on a block of intact buildings.

rite aid had just created a ruckus down the street by insisting it couldn't conduct business without constructing a 10,000 sf space and demolishing two historic structures. the owner of 892 elmwood wanted to use this development as a demonstration that one could follow the rules without disrupting the neighbors. the zoning limited the size of the building to 2500 square feet. so 2500 square feet it was. retail on the first floor and two two-story apartments at the second level. a carriage house and some parking remained in the back. the building sits back from the property line 20'-0"--only a few feet forward of its neighbors.

sometimes the sketches are better than the reality.....