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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB202000055 Correspondence 2020-05-05 (3)ARB Submittal TMP 60E-3 SDP201900014 ARB-2019-84 Contact: Reid Murphy BMC Holdings Group reid@bmcholdingsgroup.com 434-825-1560 The proposed design is two stories high on Hydraulic and Georgetown Roads, with the grade sloping away on both ends to the three-story rear fa4ade with tucked -under parking. All doors are vertically proportioned with transoms above for optimal daylighting. The fagade features a rhythmic arrangement of punched window openings, with the typical window opening defined by a traditional tripartite division, and each division composed of a fixed vertical window over a lower operable awning sash that maximizes opportunities for natural ventilation. The design is inspired by traditional main street and mill buildings and is based on traditional proportions. The design is composed of regular bays with a Palladian proportion of approximately 3:5. The architecture features a brick fagade, engaged brick columns, water table, architrave, and cornice. Traditional red brick is corbeled into reveals at the water table, columns and architrave to create shadow lines defining the major architectural elements. Openings are created and defined with brick arches above and cast stone sills —analogous to the composition of Jeffersonian window openings. Compatibility with the Surrounding Area and the Entrance Corridor The proposed development is within the Hydraulic Road and Earlysville Road Entrance Corridor (EC). A thorough discussion of the various distinct stretches of this EC is beyond the scope of this narrative, and the narrative therefore focuses on the portion of the EC in the vicinity of the project site —the portion of Hydraulic Road between Earlysville Road (approximately .9 miles northeast of the site) and Emmet Street (approximately .7 miles southeast of the site). This portion of the EC has a diverse character that varies greatly and includes the following: • Single-family homes. Most are brick "ranchers", generally dating to pre-1965. • Multifamily developments, such as Westgate and Turtle Creek. With the exception of recent Stonefield apartments, the multifamily developments generally date to the 1970's and 1980's. • "Strip mall" buildings such as those at Whitewood Road and at Commonwealth Drive • Commercial office buildings, such as those across Hydraulic Road from Albemarle High School • Several churches, ranging from traditional to contemporary • Industrial sites, such as Drillers Services, Inc. • a farm • Albemarle High School (AHS), including the modular and pre-engineered buildings used by Building Services • Stonefield—a mixed use development The south side of Hydraulic, near Emmet Street, is in the City of Charlottesville. This includes the newer Extra Space Storage building at Inglewood Drive. This reference portion of the EC was almost entirely built out by the mid-1980's, and has not witnessed significant amounts of reinvestment. Many of the older developments and buildings on Hydraulic do not contribute to a pleasing streetscape—many buildings are not parallel to the street, several are fronted by large parking lots, and the landscaping is minimal or absent. In the last ten years, the two most significant changes have been the additions and renovation to AHS and the development of Stonefield. AHS now presents an updated contemporary fagade to the EC —with large extents of glass, metal panels, and woven metal sunshades. The development at Stonefield also utilizes a contemporary material palette. The two most prominent commercial buildings at Stonefield are Trader Joe's and Regal Stonefield. While both present large blank facades to Hydraulic, these facades incorpdrate a variety of surface embellishments to add scale and texture to the street. A third Stonefield building —the Hyatt Place Charlottesville —is also prominent, but it appears this building was not subject to ARB review due to its setback. Still undergoing renovations, the small "strip mall" at 285 Hydraulic Ridge Road (the corner of Hydraulic and Whitewood Road) is being upgraded from a dated red brick and pedimented facade to a more contemporary painted brick and stucco appearance. Because the corridor is so diverse and the preponderance of buildings were built prior to the current generation of municipal regulations (and because of the current zoning), the proposed building reflects more recent developments along the corridor. The proposed building aesthetic carefully balances traditional notions suggested by the site's current zoning with a fresh and cleanly detailed approach that is in keeping with recent nearby developments. The development team believes that the proposed building improves the character of the existing EC by using the following strategies: • siting the building parallel to the street • providing a well -articulated and carefully detailed facade • using architectural detailing, texture, rhythm, and transparency to provide a pedestrian -friendly environment • developing street -side pedestrian entrances • locating parking behind and beneath the building • utilizing durable and low -maintenance materials that will minimize deterioration of the building's exterior surfaces • providing landscaping in keeping with current county requirements Architectural Changes from the Preliminary Submittal Significant changes since the previous submittal are outlined below. • Based on feedback from the previous meeting, the north wing of the building is now divided into two sets of three bays each. • The mechanical units (condensers) have been moved to the roof and are screened by the parapet wall. • Retaining walls are represented with more specificity. The parking lot retaining walls (north and south) are segmental block. The generator screen wall (north end of building) has brick veneer. • Based on feedback from the previous meeting, the low -slope, metal -clad, hip roof over the center pavilion has been removed. • Grades are represented with more specificity, and the drawings therefore now represent exterior stoops and stairs where required. • The side elevations have been modified slightly, in terms of "bay" configuration. This was done primarily to coordinate with the egress stairs. • The metal has been changed from a silver/clear anodized palette to a dark bronze palette. Comment Responses See separate document with written responses. Material Submitted • The proposed brick was submitted previously and is still on file. Brick has not been re -submitted. • The proposed mortar was submitted previously and is still on file. Mortar has not been re -submitted. • A Cast Stone sample (window sills) has been submitted. • A wood board sample (canopy soffits) has been submitted. • A metal sample (window cladding, sheet metal, painted steel) has been submitted. This replaces the previously submitted metal sample. • A sample of the segmental block retaining wall has been submitted. • A glazing sample will be submitted in approximately one to two weeks.