Historic Zoning Commission

Market Square H-1: Level II

5-D-19-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II Major Replacement of materials or architectural elements; construction of addition or outbuilding.

This is a renovation of the first level of the previously altered building at 2 Market Square. The exterior will be modified to include a metal canopy to cover a new patio seating area on Market Square with railings anchored to the concrete. A new metal canopy will also be added on the Union Avenue side of the building with sidewalk seating. The Market Square and Union Avenue façades will be modified to include a new wood storefront cornice (sign board), gooseneck lights, and signage. Per 6.17.19 drawings, painted signs will extend horizontally across east and west elevations. Signs will be no taller than 2.5' and lettering will be 18" tall.

Site Info

Two story, three bay, brick building with modern single pane windows on front facade, chamfered corner. Two story Italianate Commercial rear portion with access from Union Avenue, arched brick corbelled windows, corbelled cornice. c. 1950 storefront with recessed entry. (C) S. W. Hall & Co. Grocers recorded as occupant in 1885, with second floor use as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall. Other uses included a drugstore, a hardware store, a pharmacy and boarding house and a shoe store. In 1935, when front facade was probably altered, 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) The building is a contributing structure within the Market Square H-1 Overlay and the National Register Historic District. While the building had a different design when originally constructed, the current building design from the 1930's is considered the design of significance in regard the Market Square Commercial (National Register) Historic District and the adopted Market Square Design Guidelines.
2) The Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation recommendation #3 states, "Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken."

• In staff's opinion, the design of the proposed storefront cornice (sign board) is not in-keeping with the modernistic design of the building.
3) The Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation recommendation #4 states, "Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved."
4) The Market Square Design Guidelines ("guidelines") recommend that the cornice (sign board) be constructed of wood, cast iron, or sheet metal.

• The sign board will be constructed of MDO (wood).
5) The guidelines recommend that inappropriate historical themes shall be avoided.

•The proposed sign board is designed to be similar to other historic structures on Market Square, however, does not appear to match the design of the building. Staff is recommending it be designed to have a flat appearance, or other design that is appropriate for the modernistic structure.
6) The guidelines recommend that storefronts not have more than two signs, a primary and a secondary sign. One of these may be a flush- mounted sign board located below the second story window sills and above the storefront display windows. It should not be more than 2-1/2 feet high with lettering between 8" and 18" high and covering about 65% of the sign board.

• The signs on the plan do not have dimensions or materials identified, however, they appear to meet the intent guidelines. Staff is recommending approval of the sign plan with the condition that a sign plan with dimensions and materials be submitted for staff for confirmation that they meet the size recommendations of the guidelines.

• The guidelines recommend one primary and one secondary sign for storefronts. Wall signs are considered the primary sign and hanging signs are secondary. There are three walls signs proposed and no hanging signs. The two larger, externally illuminated wall signs are on different elevations of the building and in staff's opinion, meet the intent of the guidelines. The smaller, internally-illuminated sign on the chamfered corner could be appropriate if it meets the size standards for hanging signs.
7) A hanging sign can be mounted above the sidewalk, projecting no more than five feet. It could represent the image of a product or use text to identify a tenant and should be 4-6 square feet in area.
8) The guidelines recommend that signs can be directly or indirectly illuminated. Internally lit signs that respect the dimensions noted above for flush-mounted sign boards can be appropriate.
9) The guidelines do not specifically address canopies, but do make recommendations for awnings. The applicable recommendations are to attach above the storefront display windows and below the sign board, reinforce the frame of the storefront without covering the space between the second story windows and the sign board, and project 4 to 7 feet from the building.

• The proposed canopies meet the intent of the awning guidelines with the attachment location and generally the projection from the building, and are complimentary with the straight lines of the modernistic upper facade. Awnings and canopies that extend over Market Square have been approved with a depth larger than 7 feet in the past to allow the covering of outdoor seating areas. The width of the canopies across the two elevations should be reduced so as to not go beyond the storefront framing below at the chamfered corner, which will reduce the width canopies approximately 3 feet.

• The width of the canopy tie rods shall be no more than those used on the Not Watson's canopy (15 Market Square). The tie rods used on the canopy at The Oliver Hotel was determined to be aesthetically too thick after they were installed and are not recommended for future installations.