Another step toward a market-rate apartment building downtown happens this week

ST. JOHNSBURY — Another step toward a market-rate apartment building downtown happens this week when the project leader goes before the Development Review Board. Sustainable Forest Futures Inc. (a corporation of the Northern Forest Center), seeks to transform the interior of the building at 560 Railroad St. into nine apartments and two commercial spaces, and it needs permission from the DRB because the proposed property use is a change to residential. Project manager Evan Oleson will appear before the DRB on Thursday to make the request. The center purchased the property last fall and plans to convert the 15,000-square-foot building into nine one- two- and three-bedroom apartments and two commercial spaces. Catamount Arts plans to use one of the spaces as a working studio for a rotating group of artists-in-residence.