Historic Zoning Commission

Market Square H-1: Level II

4-E-16-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Major repair or replacement of materials or architectural elements

Revised on 6-28-2016. Renovate first level of a previously altered (c. 1935 and 1950) building. The existing exterior windows and wall finish will be upgraded. The entry door will be full-light and wood-framed. As per Section A, the existing windows will be replaced with a new dark bronze storefront system, installed into the existing opening. The bottom row of panels will be frosted glass to obscure the leg-room area of the seating bar inside, while the middle portion of the storefront will be clear. The existing entry door will be replaced with a new full-glass door to meet Building Code. Flat aluminum awnings at 2-1/2 feet deep to be installed with angle irons on each façade as per drawings submitted for the 4/21/16 HZC meeting. The existing black-painted masonry facade will be covered with a new skim-coat of concrete and /or painted. Sample of proposed concrete finish to be approved by staff.

Site Info

S. W. Hall Bldg. - Two-story three-bay brick building with modern single pane windows on front façade facing Market Square, chamfered corner. Two-story Italianate Commercial rear portion with access from Union Avenue (323-327 Union) with arched brick corbelled windows, corbelled cornice, C. 1950 storefront with recessed entry. S. W. Hall & Co. Grocers is recorded as an occupant in 1885, with second floor use as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall. Successive uses included a drugstore, a hardware store, a pharmacy and boarding house and a shoe store. In 1935, when the front facade was probably altered, the building had become the Wonder Store, Inc., a department store, and by 1950, it was an annex of Miller's Department Store. The footprint of the building with its distinctive chamfered corner has not changed on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map.

1) According to MPC survey files, the existing storefront was installed sometime between 1935 and 1950 -- the latter date being when the entire building façade was renovated.

2) The lower-level aluminum storefront design is not compatible with that of the upper level, and is poorly crafted.

3) The proposed vertical storefront configuration is appropriate for storefronts on Market Square.

4) The middle portion of the windows will be clear so that the majority of the storefront will be transparent. The frosted portions of the storefront above and below represent the transom and bulkhead respectively.

5) The proposed dark bronze storefront system will be installed into the existing opening. The color will match other dark storefronts currently used on Market Square.

6) The concrete masonry at the mid-level of the building has been previously painted and is currently black.

7) The Option 2 rubbed concrete finish would soften the appearance and provide more of an artistic character.

8) The existing door is not original to the building. The proposed full-light, wood-framed door is appropriate for the storefront and Market Square.

9) The low-slopes/flat gloss aluminum canopies are appropriate for a 1950s-era building, but have been denied on the early 1900s buildings in Market Square.

10) The proposed flush-mounted internally-lit circular signage as per submitted drawings meets the Market Square design guidelines, as does the proposed awning signage of metal cut-out letters.