Historic Zoning Commission

Market Square H-1: Level II

8-J-13-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Replacement/repair

Modify the existing rooftop penthouse in order to accommodate a lofted office space. The new construction will be visible beginning at a point across Union Avenue at the intersection with Gay Street to a point across Union Avenue from the entrance to Rococo Boutique at 2 Market Square. However, the front eave will not be visible at any point from the sidewalk on the same side of Union Avenue, nor will it be visible from Market Square.

The front façade of the existing penthouse which faces Union Avenue is 5'-6" tall and not visible from below. The new construction will raise the front eave approximately 9'-0" in order to create a flat roof. This would bring the overall height of the front penthouse facade to just under 15'-0". Of this total height, the lower 5'-6" portion would remain as not visible from any vantage point from the street.

The roofline currently terminates at the neighboring brick party wall at a height of 14'-0" above deck level. This is the only portion of the existing penthouse which can currently be seen from street level. The proposal would reduce the height where the roof meets the adjoining wall by 5'-0", to a total of 9''-0" in height by making the roof flat. This would mean the roofline at the back of the penthouse. where it meets the neighboring brick wall, would no longer be visible from street level.

The new construction will utilize metal stud structural framing, as is currently used in the existing penthouse, and will replace the existing non-conforming vinyl siding and trim with smooth-faced fiber cement board lap siding (identical to that used on the penthouse at 28 Market Square-Preservation Pub). The color will be a tone similar or complimentary to the existing brick, making the penthouse less visually obtrusive. The new construction will retain 3 existing 30x30 awning-style operable windows (not visible from street-level) and will add three 30x60 fixed-panel windows of like-kind, to the Union Avenue-side of the penthouse, and one to the Gay Street-side of the penthouse. These windows will be visible from the aforementioned locations across Union Avenue.

Remove later added brick arch on front corner of roof. Install bubbled privacy glass in storefront and door.

Site Info

S. W. Hall & Co. Building. Two-story, threebay, 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 indows, corbelled cornice. c. 1950 storefront with recessed entry. (C) S. W. Hall & Co. Grocers is ecorded as an occupant in 1885, with second floor use as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall. 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) The architect's study indicates that the penthouse will not be visible from Market Square; however, it will be paritally visible from Krutch Park, Gay Street, and the south side of Union Avenue. Currently, the front façade of the existing penthouse facing Union Avenue is not visible. However, raising the front eave of the penthouse roof by 9 feet will cause the eave to be visible from across Union Avenue from the intersection with Gay Street to a point across Union Avenue from the shop entrance of Rococo Boutique (2 Market Square).

2) The penthouse setback will remain in line with existing (approximately 9 feet.)

3) The current penthouse facade fronting Union Avenue is 5'-6" tall and is not visible from below. The proposal is to add an additional 9'-0", bringing the overall height of the Union Avenue facade to just under 15'-0". Of this total height, the lower 5'-6" portion would remain as not visible from any street vantage point.

4) The building to the adjacent north is approximately one story taller than the subject building, so the building iat 325 Union Avenue is not freestanding and the raised penthouse eave and façade will not be visible from points north in Market Square.

5) The roofline currently terminates at the adjacent north brick party wall at a height of 14'-0" above deck level. This is the only portion of the existing penthouse which can currently be seen from street level. The proposal would be reducing the height where the roof meets the adjoining wall by 5'-0", to a total of 9''-0" in height by making the roof flat. This would mean the roofline at the back of the penthouse, where it meets the neighboring brick wall, would no longer be visible from street level.

6) The proposed 30 x 60 fixed-panel windows on the penthouse will be visible from the locations across Union Avenue mentioned in #1 above.

7) Components of roof top decks have been approved in Market Square when not highly visible.


NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TECHNICAL BRIEF #14: ROOFTOP ADDITIONS:
"How to Evaluate a Proposed Rooftop Addition. (A) A sight-line study only factors in views from directly across the street, which can be very restrictive and does not illustrate the full effect of an addition from other public rights of way. (B) A mock up is essential to evaluate the impact of a proposed rooftop addition on the historic building. (C) A mock up can be enhanced by a computer-generated rendering to evaluate the impact of a proposed rooftop addition on the historic building."

A rooftop addition should be minimally visible. Generally, a rooftop addition must be set back at least one full bay from the primary elevation of the building, as well as from the other elevations if the building is freestanding or highly visible.

Generally, a rooftop addition should not be more than one story in height.

Generally, a rooftop addition is more likely to be compatible on a building that is adjacent to similarly-sized or taller buildings.