4-B-26-DT

Level II: 319 S. Gay St.

Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Certificate 4-B-26-DT, subject to the following conditions:1) All windows at the pedestrian level are to be clear.2) Windows are to be constructed as depicted. Any changes to the proposed windows must be approved by the Board.3) The final design of the solid wood entry doors in the Gay Street and Wall Avenue elevations shall return to the Board for review and approval.4) All existing and new signs are subject to DRB review and approval as part of a separate application. Existing signs may be required to be removed and/or replaced with signs that are consistent with the guidelines.

Map Case File

Applicant Request

Level II: Exterior alterations -- revision to 8-A-25-DT

- Exterior rehabilitation scopes include renovating the existing storefronts on the Gay Street and Wall Avenue elevations, staining existing precast concrete panels on the ground floor of all elevations, and installing two new awning windows to match the existing with precast concrete sill, head, and jambs to match the existing on the west (alley) elevation.
- Gay Street elevation: Three storefront bays (the first, second, and fourth) will be replaced with new windows and single-swing doors with transoms and black aluminum frames. The center (third) bay will be replaced with a new storefront entrance featuring a wide, solid wood door framed by extended metal and precast concrete panels, with natural gas lanterns on both sides of the door. The door and wall area with granite accents on the northmost (fifth) bay will remain. The decorative grills under the beams are to be removed from all bays. The upper stories will remain as-is.
- NOTE: The ground floor remains unchanged from the previous approval. Modifications to the upper floors were removed from the scope of work.
- Wall Avenue elevation: The westernmost (first) bay will remain as-is, with granite panels. The second storefront bay will be replaced with a new storefront entrance featuring a wide, solid wood door, framed by an extended metal entrance port, and precast concrete panels (similar to the Gay Street entrance). The third, fourth, and sixth bays will have new black aluminum storefront systems with transoms, but no doors. The fifth bay will be replaced with new windows and single-swing doors with transoms and black aluminum frames. Precast infill panels are to be installed to cover the wall openings above the lintel of two bays with entry doors. The upper stories will remain as-is.
- NOTE: The granite panels in the first bay were previously proposed for partial removal and the installation of a storefront system with a door. The second bay featured a solid wood, double door. And the third and fourth bays previously had doors. Modifications to the upper floors were removed from the scope of work.
- Strong Street elevation: Two new awning windows to match the existing ones are to be installed on the north side of the elevation. The sill, lintel, and jambs are to be precast concrete to match the existing.
- NOTE: Several new windows and a garage door were removed from the scope of work.

Property Notes / Work to be Completed

- The Design Review Board (DRB) approved a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for this building in September 2025, subject to 3 conditions: 1) All windows at the pedestrian level are to be clear, 2) Windows are to be constructed as depicted. Any changes to the proposed windows must be approved by the Board, and 3) the final solid wood door selections must return to the Board for approval. This proposal is consistent with the first condition, the second condition is applicable through the construction process, and the third condition will be satisfied with a future submittal. If approved, this COA will replace the previous COA in its entirety.
- 319 S. Gay Street, while zoned DK-H, is not located within the Gay Street Commercial National Register Historic District, so the Historic Resources section of the design guidelines does not apply.
- While sections of the original building were built prior to 1900, the building has had several exterior rehabilitation campaigns, most recently in 1984, so the proposal will not result in the modification or removal of any character-defining historic features. The proposal retains the existing building's use of "traditional considerations such as show-windows, transoms, friezes, and signboards," differentiating the ground-floor massing from the upper floors. Existing design elements in good condition will be retained, including the granite accents, precast concrete panels on the first floor, and precast concrete cornice and detailing. The entrances will face the two main streets.
- Renovating storefronts on the first story will enhance pedestrian interest and engagement at the site. However, the proposed wide, solid-wood doors and solid-panel infill are inconsistent with the guidelines' recommendations to "enhance pedestrian interest in commercial and office buildings by creating a largely transparent and consistent rhythm of entrances and windows." The Board previously approved the storefronts, subject to the final door design being returned to the Board for approval, and with the understanding that during hours of operation, the solid doors will remain in the open position, resulting in the transparency intended by the design guidelines.
- The window installation on the Strong Street elevation creates a "largely consistent rhythm," as recommended by the guidelines. The new awning windows and precast sill, head, and jambs will match the existing, creating a cohesive look.

Applicable Guidelines

Downtown Design Guidelines

- B. PRIVATE REALM
- The private realm is composed of the buildings, structures, and private or quasi-public open spaces. The private realm is commonly defined by building envelopes.
- 1. Building Mass, Scale and Form
- Building form should be consistent with the character of downtown as an urban setting and should reinforce the pedestrian activity at the street level. Creating pedestrian-scale buildings, especially at street level, can reduce the perceived mass of buildings. Human-scale design elements are details and shapes that are sized to be proportional to the human body, such as, upper story setbacks, covered entries, and window size and placement.
- 1a. Maintain a pedestrian-scaled environment from block to block.
- 1c. Use building materials, cornice lines, signs, and awnings of a human scale in order to reduce the mass of buildings as experienced at the street level.
- 3. Building Materials
- New building materials should relate to the scale, durability, color, and texture of the predominate building materials in the area.
- 3a. Use complimentary materials and elements, especially next to historic buildings.
- 4. Architectural Character
- Buildings should be visually interesting to invite exploration by pedestrians. A building should express human scale through materials and forms that were seen traditionally. This is important because buildings are experienced at close proximity by the pedestrian.
- 4a. Encourage first floor uses that draw walk-in traffic; businesses that do not require pedestrian traffic should be located on other floors.
- 4b. Enhance pedestrian interest in commercial and office buildings by creating a largely transparent and consistent rhythm of entrances and windows.
- 4d. Differentiate the architectural features of ground floors from upper floors with traditional considerations such as show-windows, transoms, friezes, and sign boards.
- 5. Ground Floor Doors and Windows
- Entrances and ground floor windows should foster pedestrian comfort, safety and orientation.
- 5a. Use consistent rhythm of openings, windows, doorways, and entries.
- 5b. Orient front entrances to the main street; secondary entrances should be clearly defined and oriented towards streets and alleys, as appropriate.
- 5d. Consider corner entrances at the ends of blocks.
- 5c. Design entrances according to the proportions of the building's height and width.
- 5e. All windows at the pedestrian level should be clear.