(Richmond, IN)--The question of whether or not to allow first-floor apartments in some of Richmond’s most iconic downtown buildings went before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday.  Plans called for 24 first-floor residences to be located in several renovated downtown structures.  Developer John Anderson touted the project to the Board.  "People want to live in our apartments.  They're cool.  They're well done.  They're historically accurate," Anderson said.  But not everyone agreed that ground-floor residences were good.   They expressed concerns over things like parking and residents lingering outside.  Dakota Collins, who is Earlham’s Director of Community Relations and who has been heavily involved in the project, downplayed that.  "There's no reason to leave under or un-utilized space in our downtown first floors just because we're scared of what may happen," Collins said.  Downtown business owner and investor Mike Lyons took exception.  "They've never invested their money, but they want to tell me what's best.  That kind of upsets me," Lyons explained.  In the end, the Board granted 3-1 approval for the residences.  Only two of those will front East Main.