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HomeMy WebLinkAbout307 e Capitol amended COA hdc17-0121 of 2 DATE: July 10, 2017 APPLICANT: Jamie Moses, Moses Tucker ADDRESS: 307 E Capitol Avenue COA REQUEST: Amendment to existing COA PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 307 E Capitol Avenue. The property’s legal description is “Lots 1R and 2R Block 40, and 1125 sf closed alley lying along east line thereof per 2015-04536, less and except the west 50’ of the north 75’ of lot 2R of the Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." The building at 307 East Capitol is known as the Paragon Printing building and is a contributing structure to the district. It was built in 1947 and expanded shortly thereafter. The survey notes “International Style with floor to ceiling glass façade and large expanse of blank windowless walls. This application is an amendment to existing COA that was approved on January 11, 2016 for renovations to the Paragon Building to house Fassler Hall. This application includes changes to the exterior patio area and all elevations. PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE: On January 11, 2016, a COA was approved for Moses Tucker for the paragon Building at 307 E Capitol for Fassler Hall renovations. On October 6, 2005, a COA was approved and issued to the City of Little Rock Police Department for a new building. PROPOSAL AND WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION BASED OFF OF INTENT AND GUIDELINES: A Certificate of Appropriateness was approved for rehab on January 11, 2016. In the review of the building permit and with further detailed design work, several items were changed and require that the project be reviewed a second time for an amended Certificate of Appropriateness. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. One. Location of Project Page 2 of 16 This report will give a brief description of the building and summarize what had been approved in the January 2016 hearing. The items that are subject to change will be shown as struck (struck). It will then present the changes that are proposed in this action. The Paragon building, at 307 East Capitol, is a two story building in the “Structural Expressionist” architectural style. Simply stated, the structural members of the building are expressed in the building, namely the white columns and pilasters on the front corners and along the sides of the building. Mason Toms, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, has located the architect that had designed the building. Raymond Branton listed the building in the catalogue of works that he had complied after his office burned down. The front of the building features a structural member frame in white that encases the building on the sides and top. The structural member appears to be stucco over metal lathe and that member extends inwards to become the soffit of the building over the entrance. The ce nter portion of the front façade has a third type of brick, a more decorative brick with rounded edges that is red in color. The mortar has been dyed to match the brick. Mr. Toms stated that this front façade brick may be a “dipped brick”, where brick was dipped in paint before installation to achieve a uniformity in color that was unavailable from firing bricks alone. The balance of the façade is a two story glass storefront floor to ceiling windows and one door on the east side. The contrast of the red brick, red mortar and the white structural members provides architectural interest in this building along with the massing of the large rectangles of glass and decorative brick. The side facades are broken into seven bays with the white structural members extending from the ground to the top of the parapet wall. The eastern façade has evidence of windows that have been bricked over. There were four large windows and one small window. There is an existing overhead door in the sixth bay. The seven bays on the east side are not a regular width as the bays on the west side are. The steel frame windows are still in place in the building, the brick was added to the exterior sill. The western façade of the building has seven bays with the first bay closest to Capitol Avenue having some of the two story floor to ceiling glass storefront windows. Paragon Building north elevation 2006 Contributing and Non-contributing map Page 3 of 16 The brick on the sides of the building are not the same as the brick on the front. Part of the eastern wall nearest to Capitol Avenue is a buff brick that has been painted. The western wall appears to be the same brick as the balance of the eastern wall, a smooth red brick. The wall has been painted a similar color of red as the brick. A ghost sign appears on the western wall but is unintelligible. The following was approved in the January 2017 hearing. The items struck (struck) are proposed to be changed in the new application. The proposal for the front of the building would keep the following items: 1. The white concrete structural members would be cleaned and repainted white. 2. The existing storefront windows on the west side would be repaired as needed or replaced to match the existing. The proposal for the front of the building would change the following items: 3. The single aluminum storefront door would be replaced with two aluminum storefront doors (3’x8'). 4. A 2’ x 7’ stained and painted carved wood sign would be placed over the new aluminum storefront doors. 5. A 12” thick wood awning with recessed lights in the soffit would be added over the front doors at the level of the beam between the first and second floor. 6. The red brick panel in the center of the building and the brick to the east of the front door will not be painted. 7. A perforated metal screen would be added to the building in front of the brick panel. It would be blue in color and have a diamond pattern with cutouts. 8. A sign, varying from 5’-3” to 3’-0” by x 22’8”’ would be wall mounted metal cut letters painted white, beside of the diamond screen with the words “Fassler Hall”. 9. The brickwork on the front of the building will be cleaned and repaired as necessary. 10. There would be a fence added to the west side of the building placed on a wood slat base. The fence and base would be 8’ tall. The fence would be a decorative metal fence in a mid-century motif. 11. There would also be a gate installed in the alley on the east side of the building in the decorative mid-century motif. It would not have a wood slat base. It will be 6’-0” tall. The proposal for the west side of the building would keep the following items: 12. The white concrete structural members would be cleaned and repainted white. 13. The existing storefront windows on the west side would be repaired as needed or replaced to match the existing. The west side of the building would have the following changes. 14. The brick would be painted gray. 15. There would be a painted logo on the wall near Capitol Avenue in the first bay of 49 square feet with the diamond blue background with a griffin. 16. Bays three, four and five would feature glass 10’-0” tall by 12’-0” wide sliding doors centered in the bays (number one being closest to Capitol Avenue). 17. Wood awnings are above the overhead doors with 8” letters on the awning. “Sausage, Beer, and Live Music” are considered informational signage per the sign ordinance. 18. A proposed sign, Fassler Hall, of 413 square feet is proposed to be painted on the second floor of the building. Page 4 of 16 19. 14 new light fixtures will be installed on the building, two per bay. They will be Wheeler Dino Wall Sconce in yellow. They are commercial grade steel with a high gloss porcelain enamel finish. The projection from the building will be 15” or less. 20. The same decorative fence that will be on the front of the building will be extended down the west façade to enclose the outdoor dining and drinking area. 21. The southernmost bays (five through seven) will have the diamond patterned artwork painted on the brick. The proposal for the east side of the building would keep the following items: 22. The white concrete structural members would be cleaned and repainted white. The east side of the building would have the following changes: 23. The brick would be painted gray. 24. Replace the existing overhead door with a 10’ x 10’ glass overhead door. 25. Install three additional 10’ x 10’ glass overhead doors in bays three, four and five (number one being closest to Capitol Avenue.) 26. Install 13 wall sconces as described above. 27. The northernmost bays (one through three) will have the diamond patterned artwork painted on the brick. 28. There is proposed to have a fence at the midpoint of the alley at the rear of the American Legion Building. The current application proposes the following changes to the approved COA. The exterior patio has increased in size on the western portion of the property and now extends to Cumberland Street. The exterior patio to the east of the building is not going to be built. A portion of the new patio area will be raised and will feature a horizontal wood slate fence that is 4’-6” above existing grade. The fence will be comprised of CMU base in some are as and wood horizontal slat fencing on all areas. A portion of the fence will be taller to screen the mechanical units. Building code requires the fence to be as high as the units are for screening purposes. Overheard string lights strung between metal poles will illuminate the outdoor area. The exterior patio has changed. 29. The overall area of the patio has increased from 2,737 SF to 6,350 SF. The previously area was approximately 22’ wide and 140’ long along the west side of the building. The south half of that 140’ (approximately) now extends west to Cumberland Street in the new layout. 30. A portion of the patio is raised 1’ higher than the existing asphalt, and surfaced with compacted granite fines. 31. The perimeter fence has changed from a wood-clad base with ornamental metal posts and rails to a skim coated painted CMU base with cedar posts and horizontal slat rails. The CMU base in only at the raised portion of the patio. In the un-raised areas of the patio, the wood slat fence would carry to the ground. 32. 2” x 1-1/2” steel posts will mount along the perimeter fencing spaced approximately 10’ apart to allow for the suspension of string lights above the patio. The string lights will be string with a wire connected to the galvanized poles. 33. The height of the majority of the fencing has reduced from 6’ to 4’-6” tall. 34. At the southeast corner of the patio, a portion of the fencing will need to increase to approximately 13’-1” in order to fully conceal mechanical equipment per the building code. 35. At this time, no umbrellas or other shade coverings are being proposed. Page 5 of 16 Site Plan Fence Detail String Light photo from Tulsa location The west elevation changes are as follows: Two of the three openings in the wall change noticeably: one will be reduced by half and one will become a sliding take out window. The awnings above the new openings have changed from wood clad with painted letters to light aluminum frame fabric awnings with printed letters. The diamond-patterned mural at the south end has shifted slightly northward to appear more continuous as it crosses over the new mechanical yard fencing. Three previously proposed goose neck light fixtures at the south end of the façade will be replaced with one LED wall pack light fixture within the mechanical enclosure area. The West elevation has changed: 36. The new openings along the façade have reduced from three 12’ wide by 10’ tall sections of storefront with 4 swinging doors each to one 12’-6” x 10’-3” section, one 6’-6” x 10’-3” section, and one 4’ x 8’ sliding window. Page 6 of 16 37. The awnings above the new openings have changed from wood clad with painted letters to light aluminum frame fabric awnings with printed letters. All three awnings are 17’-6” wide, 2’-6” tall and project 6’ from the wall. 38. The diamond-patterned mural at the south end has shifted slightly to appear more continuous as it crosses over the new mechanical yard fencing. 39. Three previously proposed goose neck light fixtures at the south end of the façade will now be totally concealed by the tall mechanical yard fence, and replaced with one LED wall pack light fixture. 40. From the previously approved submission, the following sizes were given for the informational signage on the awnings: Sausage – 1.6 SF; Beer – 0.9 SF; Music – 1.6 SF. Those sizes are not expected to change or increase. The tallest letter will be approximately 8” tall. Proposed west elevation for July 2017 hearing Proposed west elevation #2 for July 2017 hearing Page 7 of 16 LED light pack Gooseneck Light The east elevation changes are as follows: The proposed overhead doors that were to be installed in bays three, four and five have been eliminated and the existing windows will remain. Two 36” wide doors are required to be added for egress per building codes. The existing overhead door will be modified to add a 36” wide door and a less wide overhead door in the same space. One window in the rear will be filled in and house a required egress door and exhaust fan. The East elevation has changed: 41. The previously proposed three overhead doors have been eliminated, and the existing windows will remain. 42. The existing overhead door will be exchanged for a smaller overhead door, and adjacent swinging door to all fit within the existing overhead door opening. The overhead door is a Cookson door, Insulated door FWCI model to be painted. It is 6’ wide and 9’ tall. 43. An additional swinging door has been added towards the south end of the building for code- required egress. The hollow core doors are a Ceco Door, Ultrador model to be painted. These two doors area required by code for egress, the two existing doors will remain. 44. A kitchen hood exhaust fan has been positioned towards the south end of the façade. It is a Captive Aire unit, model DU180HFA, with a galvanized metal finish and is 40” in diameter and projects 34” from the wall. 45. Thirteen previously proposed goose neck light fixtures along the façade have been replaced with three LED wall packs. 46. Please note the alley is no longer being programmed as an outdoor patio. Proposed east elevation for July 2017 hearing Page 8 of 16 The north elevation changes are as follows: The gate on the alley will remain as is. The wood sign above the entry door has been eliminated and will now feature lettering on the glass. The metal diamond screen has been eliminated. The sign “Fassler Hall” will now be backlit. The North elevation has changed: 47. The applicant proposes to leave the alley gate the black ornamental metal fence as it currently is. 48. The sign above the entrance has changed from a suspended wood sign, to vinyl letter mounted to the glass. The vinyl letters over the north entry door total 3.3 SF in area, far under the previously approved 14 SF sign. The tallest letters are approximately 12” tall, while the shortest are 7” tall. 49. The previously proposed metal screen has been eliminated. 50. The proposed metal letters will be backlit with concealed LED strips. 51. The metal letters on the north façade are 11 gauge steel, custom cut. The letters will be welded to 3”x3”x1/4” L-shaped angle that is then welded to another angle that is bolted back to the building at the mortar joints in the existing brick. There are two sets of angles per word, each running continuous behind the entire word, approximately 7’-6” and 13’ long respectively for each word. The LED light strips will run the length of the metal angles, mounted in such a way as to not be seen when looking straight-on at the north elevation. See also detail 5 on sheet A2.02 provided with this submission. Proposed north elevation for July 2017 hearing The south elevation: 52. The south elevation will feature the diamond pattern in decorative paint. Page 9 of 16 Proposed south elevation for July 2017 hearing. The proposed changes to the approved COA are in keeping with the guidelines and in some aspects, require fewer changes to the building than the earlier approval did. This application will be required to go to the Board of Adjustment since the total number of exterior seats exceeds 50% of the number of interior seating per Sec 36-342.1(d)(1)a.2. It may also be required to go to an additional public hearing if the use on the outdoor patio is something other than just eating and drinking, i.e., live music. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions: 1. Obtain Board of Adjustment approval. 2. Obtaining a building permit. COMMISSION ACTION: July 10, 2017 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a brief presentation of the proposed changes to the proj ect since the last review. There were no comments from citizens as of now. Commissioner Jeremiah Russell asked about the difference of an internally lit sign and what they are proposing and what Staff’s justification is on the support of it. Mr. Minyard explained that it is not internally illuminated. It is backlight. There was discussion on the makeup of the sign and the opacity of the letters versus the translucent nature of backlit signs. Chair Dick Kelley clarified that you see the shadow of the letter. Mr. Minyard described it as a halo effect on the letters. Commissioner Dale Pekar asked if there was any justification on the raised area. Mr. Minyard stated it was not in the submission. Page 10 of 16 James Sullivan and Frank Barksdale of AMR Architects were present to represent the project. They stated that a lot has happened with changes from the client and budget constraints. The applicant has acquired the use of more land, the programming of interior space which changed windows and doors and the removal of the metal screen on the front. Chair Kelley asked what was behind the big metal screen. Mr. Sullivan stated that the screen hides the condensers for the air conditioning. The duct work goes up the wall and they are trying to hide the ductwork. Chair Kelley asked about the exhaust fan in the alley and if this was a pedestrian area. Mr. Sullivan stated that the city provided specs on the height of the fans. The alley is not functioning as a patio anymore. The city provided requirements on the height of the fan. The alley will not function as a patio space anymore since the sharing of the kitchen between the two buildings did not pan out. Chair Kelley asked about the raised level of the patio and the 12” of compacted fines. Mr. Sullivan said the client wanted to have an area of granite fines and it was a design decision having a different texture. They did not want to dig up the existing paved area. There were no citizens that spoke on the item. Commissioner Pekar made a motion to approve and Commissioner Russell seconded. The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent (Johnson). Page 11 of 16 Application Page 12 of 16 Cover Letter Page 13 of 16 Clarification Letter of June 9, 2017 Page 14 of 16 Architectural Plan sheet HC_A2.01 Page 15 of 16 Architectural Plan sheet A2.02 Page 16 of 16 Architectural Plan sheet HC_A1.01