1000 Magazine St.

District: Warehouse District - Full Control

Owner: World War II Theatre Inc 

HDLC Staff: Dennis Murphy

Rating: Non-Contributing

Applicant: A Alfortish III Lester 

Permit #: 23-29523-HDLC 

HDLC Guidelines: 

Section 12, Pages 12-13 of the Guidelines for New Construction, Additions and Demolition, state that all applications for rooftop additions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The architectural treatment of the proposed addition should be compatible and unobtrusive so that the addition does not detract from the architecture of the existing building or the surrounding historic district. If allowable by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and appropriate at the specific site, the HDLC uses specific design standards to review proposals for rooftop additions. The HDLC: 

• Strives to make all rooftop additions, elevator and mechanical equipment, and furnishings as unobtrusive or minimally visible from the public way as possible.

• Limits the overall height of rooftop additions, including framing and parapet, to 12’-0” above the lowest surface of the existing roof, except for code-required components, such as elevator overrides.

• Requires that rooftop additions be set back from the street façades of the building by a minimum of 1.5 times the overall height of the proposed addition inclusive of extended awnings and trellises, (i.e., a 12’-0” high rooftop addition with an awning should be set back from the street wall a minimum of 18’-0” to the awning edge).

• Requires that rooftop additions incorporate elevator equipment, mechanical equipment and HVAC equipment within the single story, allowable rooftop addition footprint.

• Requires that all furnishings including railings, screens, planters, plants, and permanent rooftop furnishings taller than the closest parapet be setback from the street wall(s) a minimum of 1.5 times the height of the proposed furnishing from the lowest roof surface.

Previous ARC Recommendations: 

11/14/2023: The ARC voted to recommend conceptual approval with the final details to return for additional ARC review if Staff feels it is necessary after submission of the updated materials requested.  The ARC also agreed that:

• There is some concern about the visibility of the new canopies impacting the unique massing and detailing of the existing building. However, the ARC noted that visibility would likely be very limited from the street and the existing building is Non-Contributing rated (new construction).

• It is recommended to install a simple mock-up representing the canopy column height at the roof terrace so that the visibility of these elements can be better understood.

• The applicant should provide some simple elevations and/or 3D massing studies that better demonstrate how the new canopies will relate to the existing building massing and fabric. For example, the location of columns should align or have some rhythmic relationship with the window openings or other exterior building details below so that the canopies are more integrated and contribute to the overall architectural aesthetic.

• Staff Recommendation: Approval