July 1, 2008 — The City of Susanville Planning Commission approved a use permit to convert the old Forest Service building downtown into residential apartment units at the commission’s regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 24. The project will allow the building at 55 South Sacramento St. to be converted from 8,000 square feet of office space into 13 multifamily residential apartment units.

The building, currently owned by Susanville resident Tim Cashman, was built in 1960 to be used as a soft drink bottling plant. Later it was converted to office space and occupied by the U.S. Forest Service.

After the Forest Service vacated the building, several failed plans came through over the years, including an indoor-go-cart track and a fitness center.

In 2006, Jack FM moved into the front location of the building, though the rest has been vacant and underutilized for years.

The proposed plan is to convert the entire second floor to apartments, leaving the first floor as commercial.

“I am glad to see that this building is not simply going to remain empty. This is a great, useful project, there is certainly a need for this type of housing here,” said councilmember Wayne Jambois.

Bill Nebeker, community development director for the city of Susanville, recommended that the planning commission approve the use permit under several conditions.

Remodeling of the building will be necessary to meet the requirements of building and fire code, and a licensed California fire protection engineer will need to certify that current code requirements are met. All changes to the building will require the submittal of plans prepared by a licensed, registered California architect.

Cashman will also have to re-landscape the planting strip along the parking lot with trees, shrubs, or grass, as well as paint the shingles on the fascia of the building.

The easternmost portion of the alley behind the building will also need to be repaved, and graffiti on the back of the building painted over.

The building has a large parking lot across the alley on Sacramento Street, with 46 parking spaces, including three handicapped spaces available for possible tenants and guests. The 13 residential units are currently studio apartments, though some changes may be made. Other portions of the building, on the first and third floors, will be used for future commercial use.