A California storage company was issued a setback this week in efforts to convert the six-story J.H. Allen Building — a more-than-century-old downtown office and warehouse building — into a commercial storage facility.

The St. Paul Board of Zoning Appeals rejected a zoning variance request on Monday from Global Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif.

The company has plans to buy 287 E. Sixth St. and lease out all the levels above the ground floor for commercial storage.

Under the city’s zoning code, only 15% of the structure’s gross floor area can be used for storage, but Global CRES had hoped to convince the city to allow 85% of the site to be devoted to that purpose. Plans call for the ground floor and basement to remain commercial studio space.

The Board of Zoning Appeals held a public hearing on Monday and voted 4-2 against the proposal after testimony from several commercial tenants opposed to the variance request and worried about a loss of community.

A neighborhood organization, the CapitolRiver Council, voted to recommend approval of the variance, noting the building was constructed in 1905 as a storage warehouse and its high windows did not readily lend themselves to conversion to residential apartments.

Attorney Brian Alton, who represents Global CRES in the matter, said Wednesday that several of the building’s floors are currently vacant. Adding more Lowertown storage space could help fill neighboring buildings by facilitating residential conversions or consolidating commercial tenants, he said.

Asked whether the company would file a further appeal to the St. Paul City Council, Alton said he could not immediately comment.

Related Articles

Wold Architects leaving St. Paul’s First National Bank building for downtown Minneapolis

Minnesota Wild owner pitches bigger Xcel Center remodel, 650-room hotel for downtown St. Paul

Your guide to the St. Paul Art Crawl this weekend

Mary J. Blige to play her first Twin Cities show in 15 years at Xcel Energy Center in March

Two downtown St. Paul medical office buildings go to auction in October