1519 Robert C Blakes, SR Dr.

Previous ARC & Staff Recommendations:

04/16/24: The ARC voted to recommend denial of the application because it does not meet the HDLC Design Guidelines. The ARC reviewed the floor plans of the building and made several recommendations on locations where the stair could easily be located at the interior of the building, as advised by the HDLC Guidelines, with minimal impact on the use of the more than adequate space available. This would maintain the exterior of the historic landmark building intact. The ARC also agreed the applicant should continue to explore an alternative strategy that can instead locate the desired new interior stair within the current building envelope in a manner that does not negatively impact the exterior appearance of the building or the interior center hall layout.

01/23/24: The ARC recommended denial of the application, as it does not meet the HDLC Guidelines.  The ARC stated that the stair should be worked into the interior, rather than infilling the existing porch.

While the open space at the rear of this building is minimally visible from a surrounding public right of way, it is under the full HDLC jurisdiction based on its Landmark designation. As per the HDLC Design Guidelines, open exterior porches, galleries, and balconies such as this were intended to be transitional spaces, are an essential part of the building's type, and were intended to remain as open exterior spaces. As a result, enclosing these spaces to achieve additional interior square footage is considered a radical and inappropriate intervention that removes historic building fabric and negatively alters the visual perception of the building's history, massing, and type. Additionally, the ARC carefully reviewed this request and made several recommendations on how the desired stair could be easily located at the interior of the building, with minimal impact on use. Staff agrees with the ARC recommendation that the proposed enclosure is not appropriate and that the applicant should continue to explore an alternative strategy to locate the desired stair within the existing building envelope. However, Staff does note that after several meetings with the applicant between the ARC meetings, that the most recent proposal of the shuttered enclosure is the most successful. Based on the Guidelines and ARC recommendation, Staff recommends denial of the appeal of the ARC recommendation for for the stair enclosure. 

• Staff Recommendation: Denial