Follow us on Twitter Follow Us on Facebook

  DRC Home | Applicants Guide (PDF) | Submittals Checklist (PDF) |Application Form (PDF) | Agendas

Northeast Design Review Case Report

ARKITAINER ON 72ND

Back Return to Case List | Start Over | Print Report (PDF format)

Project Information

Northeast Case #  NE 2020-011

Address: 887-903 East 72nd
Company: WRJ Developers
Architect: Alber & Albert Architectural
Description:

Proposed new multi-family development with parking, landscaping, and site amenities. 

Notes:  

Committee Actions/Submissions

Date: June 9, 2020
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Initial Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:  

Voting Members Present:

  • P. Brown
  • T. Veider
  • RS. Neiswander
  • N. Reich
  • A. Lukacsy-Love
  • B. Chew

 

Project details presented by the WRJ team on initial thoughts on materials, amenities, connections, parking, and sustainability features.  This is an affordable housing development.

 

Committee Questions, Comments, Concerns

  • What is the apartment mix/ratio?  Per JB: Have not solidified the unit count, are in the process of doing a market study to help determine the mix.  Depending on the number of bedrooms they can offer roughly 45-70 apartments.
  • How are you planning for installation between walls and floors?  Per JB: Intend to return with details on insulation and facade materials at a later date.  Do intend to insulate between floors, between units, and on the exterior of units.
  • Are the proposed buildings on the same setback lines as the existing buildings? Per JB: Yes
  • Consider the parking arrangement/count and greenspace.
  • What is the depth of the decks and porches?  Per JB: Height will be 9ft6in and depth is about 5ft
  • Have some concerns about the proximity of the units to each other across the courtyard.  Suggestion to really amp up the architecture and design of the shipping container and to possibly turn the units so that the porches face 72nd St.
  • Would like to know what structures will be demolished to make way for the current proposal.
  • Concerned about having the open hallways and maintaining heating and cooling for sustainability practices.
  • Concerned about the parapet.  It appears to be bulky and overhanging.
  • Make sure the windows work proportionately with the facade and apartment units.
  • Would like to see where the pedestrian paths/circulation are on the site plan and landscaping/screening for the back parking lot.
  • Can the balconies be on the living space and not the bedrooms?
  • Perhaps rotate the center unit to create a community greenspace?
  • Would like to see the current proposal in relation to remaining buildings and residential streets on 73rd.
  • Thinking that perhaps the "checkerboard" facade is too busy?
  • Can possibly put the upper porches within the setback.
  • Study interaction between balconies and animating 72nd St.
  • Study the use of a juliette balcony to potentially save on cost and allow for more visual interest on the facades.
  • Study the roof line of the two-family homes.
  • Create a landing area for the stairs leading to the second floor on the two-family homes.
  • Move carport closer to Detour Ave to allow for backyard space in the rear for the two-family home.
 
Date: June 16, 2020
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Tabled
Conditions:  

Motion to Table decision making on the multifamily proposal.

Motion to Table decision making on the two-family housing proposal.

Applicant to return to Design Review with additional details on both proposals.

 

Voting Members Present:

  • P. Brown
  • T. Veider
  • RS. Neiswander
  • N. Reich
  • A. Lukacsy-Love
  • B. Chew

 

Project details presented by the WRJ team on initial thoughts on materials, amenities, connections, parking, and sustainability features.  This is an affordable housing development.

 

Committee Questions, Comments, Concerns

  • What is the apartment mix/ratio?  Per JB: Have not solidified the unit count, are in the process of doing a market study to help determine the mix.  Depending on the number of bedrooms they can offer roughly 45-70 apartments.
  • How are you planning for installation between walls and floors?  Per JB: Intend to return with details on insulation and facade materials at a later date.  Do intend to insulate between floors, between units, and on the exterior of units.
  • Are the proposed buildings on the same setback lines as the existing buildings? Per JB: Yes
  • Consider the parking arrangement/count and greenspace.
  • What is the depth of the decks and porches?  Per JB: Height will be 9ft6in and depth is about 5ft
  • Have some concerns about the proximity of the units to each other across the courtyard.  Suggestion to really amp up the architecture and design of the shipping container and to possibly turn the units so that the porches face 72nd St.
  • Would like to know what structures will be demolished to make way for the current proposal.
  • Concerned about having the open hallways and maintaining heating and cooling for sustainability practices.
  • Concerned about the parapet.  It appears to be bulky and overhanging.
  • Make sure the windows work proportionately with the facade and apartment units.
  • Would like to see where the pedestrian paths/circulation are on the site plan and landscaping/screening for the back parking lot.
  • Can the balconies be on the living space and not the bedrooms?
  • Perhaps rotate the center unit to create a community greenspace?
  • Would like to see the current proposal in relation to remaining buildings and residential streets on 73rd.
  • Thinking that perhaps the "checkerboard" facade is too busy?
  • Can possibly put the upper porches within the setback.
  • Study interaction between balconies and animating 72nd St.
  • Study the use of a juliette balcony to potentially save on cost and allow for more visual interest on the facades.
  • Study the roof line of the two-family homes.
  • Create a landing area for the stairs leading to the second floor on the two-family homes.
  • Move carport closer to Detour Ave to allow for backyard space in the rear for the two-family home.
Date: September 8, 2020
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Revised Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:  

Voting Members Present

  • P. Brown (CH)
  • R.S. Neiswander
  • A. Lukacsy-Love (1st)
  • B. Chew
  • J. Farina
  • N. Reich
  • T. Veider (2nd)

 

Project details presented by WRJ Developers and ThreeSquared Architecture.  Details presented on parking, height, massing, neighborhood context, materials, etc.

 

 

Committee Questions, Comments, Concerns

  • How can residents access their units, from a central hallway?
  • Can the building be set forward more to be more inline with the existing buildings (though we understand that some of these will be demolished).  Concerned that there will be 2-4 spaces that will be in the front yard setback.  Perhaps seeking a variance for the setback would be appropropriate given the neighborhood context.
  • Very complimentary comments from multiple committee members.
  • Which materials on the elevations are from the shipping containers?
  • Have you considered placement of the mailbox, awnings over the main entrance, landscaping to screen the parking lot, placement of mechanicals, etc
  • Perhaps have an awning or cladding on the sides from the parking lot to breakdown the scale.  The side elevations aren't quite as successful as the main facade and entrance.

 

 

Charlie Townsend and Khrys Shefton from Famicos Fdn and CM Hairston is available to speak in support of the proposal.

 

 
Date: September 15, 2020
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Approved with Conditions
Conditions:  

Motion to approve conceptually with the recommendation that the building and parking is setback with the other buildings to preserve the context; and landscaping plan for screening and frontage.

Date: September 29, 2020
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Revised Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:  

Voting Members

  • P. Brown (CH)
  • B. Chew (2nd)
  • T. Veider 
  • N. Reich
  • A. Lukacsy-Love
  • RS Neiswander (1st)

 

Project details presented by WRJ and ThreeSquared.  Presented details on the updated design elements, landscaping, parking, etc.

 

 

Committee Questions, Comments, Concerns

  • How are the containers insulated?
  • Questioning the use of the arch in the main entrance and the arched windows, doesn't seem to fit with the overall design.
  • Study the support for the curved wood-look awning.  Seems that the support posts take away from the dramatic look/feel of the slope.  Think about making it a bit thicker so that it holds its own weight or use a metal support under the awning.

 

 
Date: October 6, 2020
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Approved with Conditions
Conditions:  

Motion to approve schematically with the condition to study the use of the arch at the main entrance, the use of the arched windows, support of the awnings, and which landscaping materials are used.  Passed by all members present.

 
Date: October 16, 2020
Committee: City Planning Commission
Action Type: Schematic Design Approval
Conditions:  
Date: January 26, 2021
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Revised Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:  

Voting Members Present

  • P. Brown (CH)
  • B. Chew
  • N. Reich (2nd)
  • RS Nieswander (1st)
  • J. Farina

 

Project details presented by Breck Crandell and Leslie Horn or ThreeSquared Architects, and WRJ development team.  Presented details on the final design, materials, foundations, lighting, etc.

 

 

Committee Questions, Comments, Concerns

  • Do you know what the spacing and location of the bollards are?
  • Will need to return for the final landscaping plan.
  • Are you asking for approval on the signage today?
  • Consider relocating or totally moving the support posts for the cantilevered overhang on the side entrances?
 
Date: February 2, 2021
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Approved with Conditions
Conditions:  

Motion for final approval with the condition that they return with a sign plan,  verification of hand rails on the balcony, a detailed landscaped plan, lighting plan details, revising the doorswing on the south entrance, verify location of bollars/site furnishings, and detailed drawings of the revised cantilevered side entrances.

 
Date: February 5, 2021
Committee: City Planning Commission
Action Type: Approved
Conditions: