MIDDLEBURY — A plan to install eight high-end apartments in the former Vermont Federal Credit Union building at 24 Washington St. in Middlebury has gained preliminary approval from the Middlebury Development Review Board (DRB).
The applicants must fine-tune their proposals based on feedback they received from DRB members at a Nov. 27 meeting. The plan for the apartment could earn a final go-ahead at either the DRB’s Jan. 8 or Jan. 22 meetings.
Earning a tentative nod from the DRB was a proposal by Off da Hook LLC — represented by David Shlansky and Heidi Maroney — to renovate 24 Washington St. for creation of eight apartments.
Off da Hook has owned the 24 Washington St. building for the past four years, and company officials told the DRB that housing appeared to be the only viable option for the property.
They said the eight units would range from small studios to one- and two-bedroom apartments. The proposed dwellings were described as “compact, efficient, high-end units.”
Middlebury Town Planner Jen Murrray noted the 24 Washington St. building has a national historic designation — which among other things doesn’t allow its footprint to be changed — and the developers have received the requisite permission to renovate the structure. Exterior work would include replacing some windows with more historic versions, and landscaping. The owners have already removed the former bank drive-up island, which has helped increase off-street parking for nine vehicles.
Shlansky and Maroney told the DRB they have yet to set rental rates for the proposed apartments.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].