721 Seventh St.

Staff Recommendations: 

A final inspection was requested for the new construction in December 2022. The final inspection revealed several items in deviation of the approved drawings. The applicant has worked with staff to correct all items, except for the installation of inappropriate flush-mount vinyl windows with internal muntins and inappropriate sills and the change to the approved HVAC platforms. 

The approved drawings showed all side and rear windows to be 1/1 with final window specifications to be submitted to HDLC staff prior to purchase and installation. The windows were not submitted to staff for review and do not meet the Guidelines. Staff recommends that the most visible windows be replaced with new windows that do meet the HDLC Guidelines and that all window openings receive a proper windowsill. The most visible windows are the first 4 windows on the left elevation (2 on first-floor, 2 on second-floor) and all of the windows on the right elevation due to the visibility from Chippewa St. 

For the HVAC, the approved drawings showed two separate platforms for 2 HVAC units. However, once installed the addition of the mini-splits required much larger platforms than approved. As the installation is visually obtrusive from both Chippewa St and Sixth St and are not per the approved drawings, Staff recommends denial of the retention, with the HVAC and mini-splits to be relocated.