The city planning commission has recommended that August Wilson's boyhood home be designated a city historic structure.

Members voted unanimously yesterday to make the recommendation, which now goes before City Council for final action.

The city's historic review commission also has recommended the designation for the building at 1727 Bedford Ave., where the late Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright lived from birth until age 12.

Mr. Wilson and his three sisters and two brothers lived in an apartment behind Bella's Market in the building. The family left that house for Hazelwood when Mr. Wilson was 12, returning again some years later.

Mr. Wilson's nephew, Paul Ellis Jr., requested the designation and has been doing structural work on the building.