Historic Zoning Commission

Market Square H-1: Level II

3-I-12-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Replacement/repair

Addendum to previous HZC approval on the date of 03-17-2011, 30311MKT:
1) Relocate entry door of the south bay to one section north of that bay.
2) Eliminate proposed cornice along Union Avenue elevation.
3) Modify the existing awning: Lower slope to expose new cornice and prism glass over storefront. Add new fabric. Remove center awning.
4) Installation of a temporary clear plastic enclosure under the awning to be occupied during colder months.

Site Info

Peter Kern Building. Three story, three bay brick building with similar facades. Bracketed ornamental metal cornice. Segmental arched replacement windows. Ornamental metal window hoods. Ornamental brick string course between second and third stories. Applied keystones above windows. c. 1980 storefront. Entrance to upper stories on south elevation (407 Union).

The first recorded occupancy of the building was by Peter Kern Co. bakers and confectioners in 1876. The building housed the Cole, Inc. Pharmacy from 1935 through 1965, and the upper floors have served as a small boutique hotel since the 1980s. The building is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places as The Mall Building, and is included in the Market Square National Register Historic District as well.

Photo-documentation indicates that the location of the entry doors onto Market Square are the original location; therefore, staff does not recommend approval of relocating them.

The lowering of the awning slope will reveal the prism glass above the storefront; therefore, staff recommends approval. The 3-17-2011 proposed cornice to continue on the Union Avenue side is not essential to restoring the character of that façade; therefore, staff recommends approval of eliminating it except for a return wrapping around the corner.

The plastic enclosure will be obtrusive to viewing the storefront and will not allow for the degree of transparency intended to be preserved by Mkt Sq Design Guidlelines 3 and 4 for storefronts.

Pertinent Market Square Design Guidelines:

II. Existing Buildings
A. Storefront Design:
1. Contain the storefront to the height and width of the original opening designed for it.
2. Make the storefront as transparent as possible by using large glass areas and transoms.
3. The color and texture of storefront materials shall be simple and unobtrusive, whether they are wood,
cast iron or anodized aluminum.
4. Display windows shall be clear glass.

E. Awnings.
1. Awnings were often used on storefronts. Early photographs of Market Square may be consulted to
learn their design.
2. Awnings shall be attached to the building above the display windows and below the storefront cornice
or sign panel.
3. Awnings shall reinforce the frame of the storefront without covering the space between the second
story window sills and the storefront cornice, or the piers.
4. A standard street level awning should project four to seven feet from the building and should be about
seven feet above the sidewalk.