A Brooklyn investor was denied a change-of-use variance by Pottsville’s Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday to transform a former school into an apartment building.
No member of the city’s Zoning Hearing Board voted in favor of Sinan Ozbeyl’s plan to create 12 “luxury” apartments from the former Pottsville Catholic High School at 619 Mahantongo St.
Ozbeyl purchased the building in 2022 for $155,000.
In denying the variance he sought, board members expressed concerns about parking in that congested neighborhood for tenants for tenants as well as some plans for the property that were unclear, such as the potential inclusion of a commercial coffee shop on the first floor and a rooftop terrace for residents.
Ozbeyl attempted to allay the board’s concerns but didn’t succeed during the lengthy hearing, including pulling back on the idea of the commercial coffee shop that’d be open to the public.
In his presentation with Rick Yutko, an engineer with WJP Engineers, the former school that’s often seen these days overrun with weeds at its Mahantongo St. entrance was described as structurally sound and in “fair” condition but one that needed extensive work on its interior.
Ozbeyl also raised some eyebrows among board members when he suggested that up to half of the rental units under his proposal could be short-term occupancy, rented out on sites like AirBNB.
He said each of the 12 rental units would be approximately 800 square feet and he would look to get between $1,000-1,100 for each monthly.
Ozbeyl estimated that he’d need to invest about $900,000 in renovations to the building in order to achieve his plans for it.
He told The Canary after hearing the denial that he plans to appeal the board’s decision from Thursday night and if he’s unsuccessful, likely would flip the building to another buyer.
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