Restoration Society Historic Preservation Committee Gets First Look at Revised Hine Drawings: Members Give Lukewarm Welcome to Some Proposed Changes

Hine Project Architect Amy Weinstein Briefs Historic Preservation Committee Members - Stanton Development's Kitty Kaupp Looks On

Restoration Society Historic Preservation Committee Gets First Look at Revised Hine Drawings:

Members Give Lukewarm Welcome to Some Proposed Changes

by Larry Janezich

The Restoration Society’s Historic Preservation Committee got a peek at Stanton/Eastbanc’s revised plans for the Hine development Tuesday night.  Project architect Amy Weinstein briefed the committee at its regular monthly meeting.

Weinstein described the major changes she has in mind for the project while emphasizing that it is still a work in progress.

Current thinking is that the façade of the 8^th Street residential building should look like “terrace housing” with a unified design.  Weinstein cited several examples of terrace architecture, pointing specifically to “Schneider’s Triangle” near Washington Circle, referencing its variety and interesting massing.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/anomalous_a/4290184760/  The color palate of the 8^th Street residential building will be red brick, purple red brownstone, and real slate, with the entrance of the building set off by grey brick.  No changes to the height or basic structure of the residential building were detailed at the meeting.

The 8^th Street building facing D Street will retain its modern façade.  Bay windows projecting four feet on upper floors have been added, and the columns crowning the top story will be reduced to balustrade level, bringing down the buildings height.  The façade will be gray brick.  A committee member said that the grey brick courses separated by a course of white brick suggested a stack of concrete blocks.  Another raised the issue of the ungainly tower on the southwest corner of the building which houses the air-conditioning.  Another committee member questioned the “change in language” from the 8^th Street residential Victorian façade to the modern façade of the 8^th and D office building.  Weinstein defended the modern look, saying, “I believe as we move forward in the Historic District, we have to find a way to be modern and still be respectful.”  Questioned about the placement of the windows in the modern façade as not in keeping with other aspects of the project, the architect said she respectfully disagreed, and that there was a place for “playfulness” and “idiosyncrasy.”

With respect to the use of the ground floor space in the 8^th and D building, Weinstein says that three possibilities are being considered:  Shakespeare housing, office space, and “light” retail.

The 7^th floor of the 7^th and Pennsylvania office building will be set back 12 feet and the penthouse will be minimized, providing the perception of a lower building; as of now, no floors have been eliminated entirely.  A glass railing on top of the 6^th floor will enclose a roof top “communal” roof deck.  The asymmetrical rotating columns on the 7^th Street office building remain.

Stanton Development will go back to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) on June 30^th for historic preservation review of the 8^th Street residential building, the 8^th and D Street office building, and the 7^th Street office building.  Weinstein characterized Stanton’s efforts in the upcoming reappearance before HPRB as responding to HPRB’s comments – “not everything, but what would work for us.”  Stanton will file the revised plans with HPRB on June 14^th or 15^th, to allow time for HPO staff analysis.  ANC6b will hear from the developers on June 21^st and consider a resolution of recommendations to HPRB on that date.

In July, the developers will return to HPRB with revised plans for the 7^th Street residential building, the plaza, and the North residential building.

Following the presentation, the committee went into executive session to discuss the Hine case and other matters before the committee.

Asked if the committee would make a recommendation in light of the fact that the drawings they saw tonight were still a work in progress, committee chair Nancy Metzger said “I don’t know what we’re going to do.  We may make comments to the developer based on what we heard tonight.”  Asked if the developers would appear before the committee prior to the HPRB meeting or if the committee would meet again before the HPRB meeting, Metzger responded “no,” but “when the drawing are filed with HPRB we will discuss them by email,” and, she implied, make a recommendation to HPRB at that time.

In addition to Chair Nancy Metzger, other members of the committee who attended tonight’s session included Judith Capen, James Dean, Shauna Holmes, Marisa Lewis, and Georgina Ardelan.

The Special Call Meeting on the Hine Development Project on June 21^st will be at the Peoples Church, located at 535 8th Street, SE.   The meeting will start at 7:00pm.