3039 & 3047 Saint Claude Ave.

Description: New construction of a 9,571 SF two-story commercial motel building on a vacant lot.

Previous ARC Recommendations: 

11/19/24: The ARC voted to defer the application for additional review. The ARC agreed that:

• The variety of forms, massing, and materials should be further studied and refined to be simplified and more cohesive across the elevations.

• At the Feliciana Street side, the breakdown of the building massing appears to be successful, however, the number of materials should be reduced and refined to relate more closely to the programmatic elements. For example, the lobby and bathroom massing could be treated in the same material, with the parking and units above at the rear also treated similarly to each other.

  • • The variety of opening types should also be simplified.

• An additional window should be added to the Feliciana Street side of the lobby space.

• At the St. Claude Avenue side, the overall massing and scale should be further studied and refined so that it better relates with the existing surrounding context.

  • • The one-story form/massing at the right-side appears to be domestic but does not relate to the context of existing domestic forms around it. The applicant could consider extending the 2-story massing of rooms at the rear of the building toward the front at the right side.

    • The proposed heat-treated Ashe wood cladding may appear too “precious” and may not be an appropriate material for such a prominent elevation along St. Claude Avenue.

• New visible access stairs are not permitted where visible from the public right of way, so the applicant should explore alternative floor plan options that can relocate or reconfigure the two required egress stairs, so they are no longer visible at the exterior.

  • • The egress stair located at the St. Claude side could potentially be reconfigured to occupy the current location of the second or third interior room.

• 3D massing and aerial perspective diagrams should be provided for the next review.

• The applicant should consider providing a few massing and material options for the next review.

10/22/24: The ARC voted to defer the application for additional review. The ARC agreed that:

• The proposed building appears to depart from the immediate historic context of predominantly vernacular residential architecture and the typical scale, massing, layering, siting, fenestration patterns, materials, and roof forms that are common along the St. Claude Avenue corridor.

  • While new construction is not required to be historicist or to replicate historic buildings, it must relate to and be compatible with its immediate context.  

  • The proposed roll-up garage doors at the bar/lobby building fronting St. Claude Avenue appear to be successful. 

• The applicant should further study and refine the proposed building scale and massing so that it is more compatible with the rhythm, spacing, scale, and massing characteristics of St. Claude Avenue.

  • The stair opening on the Feliciana Street side could be treated similarly to the St. Claude Avenue side where the lobby and rooms are distinguished as two separate structures with differing heights and roof forms and a canopy between. 

    • This could help to further modulate the massing along this elevation and help to make the overall building feel more cohesive around the corner and with less of a hierarchy between the front-and-back.

  • The rhythm and massing of the main bar/lobby building could be further broken down and refined, such as through a subtle change in massing, adding an element such as a canopy, or by further emphasize the two garage door bays.

  • The primary entry sequence should be further coordinated for code requirements such as the landing and door swings, and these changes may also help to further break down its overall massing.

• The quantity and pattern of window fenestration at the rooms on the right side of the St. Claude Avenue elevation appears disconnected from the rest of the building and surrounding context, and a more appropriate fenestration should be considered at this area.

• The context drawings and renderings should be further developed to include more details (such as dimensions) and to more accurately depict the adjacent structure’s massing, fenestration, roof forms, eave heights, etc. so the proposal can be better evaluated relative to the existing context. 

• The elevation drawings for the next review should include more specific information on the proposed materials, including stucco control joints, panel seams, etc. 

Context Photos:

Current Drawings:

Proposed Building Massing:

Proposed Feliciana Street Elevation Options:

Previously Reviewed Drawings - 11/19/24:

Previously Reviewed Drawings - 10/22/24:

Street View: