WILTON — The Planning Board will consider final approval of a division into apartments on the fourth floor of the Bass Wilson Building when they meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the town office.
The project at the four-story former Bass Shoe Shop located at 284 Main St. proposes building eight apartments and one master suite, Joey Cousineau said.
“We’re working everything out,” he said. “A final decision has not passed.”
If the project for Bass/Wilson Properties, owned by Randy Cousineau, is approved by the board Thursday, Joey Cousineau expects the project will go out to bid next week to see if it is feasible, he said.
The apartments, one-bedroom, 750-square foot units and two-bedroom, 1,080 square foot units, would not all be built at once, he said. The space is currently used for storage and the owner already has an apartment on the top floor.
Cousineau said he was confident there would be potential tenants for the space.
Within view of Wilson Lake, the apartments will be high-end with the original, exposed ceiling and beams, he said of the beautiful old building.
“We didn’t want to cover it up with drop ceilings,” he said.
Each unit will have its own washer and dryer, he said.
With some commercial spaces rented within the building, creation of more apartments on other floors is not being considered at this point.
“Although we’re not full, our biggest concern is keeping residential and commercial spaces separate,” he said. “We want it to be either a business or home depending on the floor.”
Last week, all tenants, apartment tenants and those who rent commercial space, were given the use of a fitness center within the building. It is not open to the public but reserved for tenants, he said.
Cousineau has been before the board a few times within the past few months. In the process of working out the plan, “we wanted to get pre-approval from the town before we took the dive,” he said.
When board members previously seemed to agree it was a good idea, “we went forward to hire an architectural firm and get the state fire marshal to issue a life and safety plan,” he said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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