Pictured is an artist’s rendering of proposed apartments at 16 Scott St., Jamestown, during a recent presentation to the Jamestown Planning Commission.

A planned apartment project at 16 Scott St. has been introduced to the city’s Planning Commission.

During the commission’s July meeting, John Dubinski, who bought the property earlier this year, presented his idea to the commission, saying that what he has found that the housing market needs is good rental homes.

“So I originally thought of Scott because I was thinking of putting up a cabinet store,” Dubinski said. “I have a really good connection with that work … the building was in really good shape, structurally sound, right in the neighborhood, which I thought was a little unusual because the next house over was not.”

Dubinski said he started getting some ideas for that space following the Department of Development’s Developer Forum at the end of April. He followed that with some conversations with people at the county level and the hiring of his team, saying now things have come more into focus with what they would like to do with the property, which has changed from the original idea.

Don Harrington of Harrington Architects said the idea is a good concept for the property and one that will not disturb the zoning laws. The building, formerly an industrial space, with this plan will be converted to a three-story apartment building with three-bedroom townhomes on the first two floors and one or two handicap accessible units on the third floor. Harrington said there will also be an elevator to allow for the third floor to be accessible.

Harrington also showed the outside plans to the commission, including a parking lot, also owned by Dubinski so parking will not be a problem, along with a potential green space, and plans to make everything as energy efficient as possible.

Other aspects of the project were then discussed, including what is required for things like funding from the state, and the idea to have a brick facade for the building. There are 11 units planned to be in the building overall.

“There’s plenty of odd or quirky, silly, small apartments,” Dubinski said. “So, giving them the townhome style apartment that makes it quality. They will have their own front door. They can park right out front, a little sidewalk, a little landscaping … and it’s a nice place.”

A storage space will be provided for the tenants as well, with part of the building planned to be detached from the current building for that purpose. The hopeful timeline for things to begin is October, Dubinski said, but depending on approvals and everything needed he said he could see construction not starting until March.

The current presentation to the planning commission is only an informational presentation to the planning commission, with next steps including a full staff review from the Department of Development before a planning commission official vote when the project is felt to be ready for that. Dubinski said right now they are looking for planning commission comments and guidance, due to having so many options with what they could do, and that they will take those into account for the final site plans.

The commission asked about current plans for snow storage and removal along with lighting and security, and that Dubinski would be hiring people to manage the building. After a bit more discussion on state funding programs that the project could qualify for, commission members expressed that it looks like a good use for the property. Dubinski will bring the project back for official approval by the planning commission at a later date.