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Landmark Commission briefed on administrative approvals for façade repairs and repainting on three West Market buildings
Summary
Staff reported administrative certificates of appropriateness for façade retexturing, repairs and repainting at 101, 123 and 127 West Market Street, noting the buildings are noncontributing and the work follows local design guidelines.
Landmark Commission staff reported on Aug. 1 that it granted administrative certificates of appropriateness for façade work on three adjacent properties at 101, 123 and 127 West Market Street, where nonhistoric exterior materials will be retextured, repaired and repainted.
The approvals cover a set of coordinated changes: smoothing and repainting an EIFS (synthetic) facade to a taupe background with gray and black accents; retexturing ribbed window and sign bands; repairing cornices, window sills and lintels with like-for-like materials; sharpening storefront cornice edges; and repainting awnings black. Staff said the work is intended to make the three storefronts more visually consistent across the block.
The commission’s staff presenter said the properties are noncontributing within the historic district and within the central region of the district and that the proposed colors and repairs “are historically appropriate.” Assistant staff member Erin added that staff contacted Commissioner Alan Griffiths because, under usual practice, a full façade treatment would be brought to the Landmark Commission but in this case the facade texture was not historically significant, the buildings are noncontributing, and the applicants were on a time constraint. Erin said staff concluded the changes were minimal and appropriate and therefore issued administrative approvals but wanted to inform the commission.
Staff materials list the scope lettered A–J: for 101 West Market, retexture and repaint the main stucco/EIFS facade to taupe, smooth plaster-like treatments at window and sign bands, and add matching borders around existing storefront recesses; for 123 West Market, repaint to taupe, repair cornice and window sills/lintels and repaint recessed entrance ceilings in an inkwell color; for 127 West Market, repaint to taupe and repair cornices and sills with like-for-like materials. Staff’s analysis says the EIFS facades have been painted before and that the proposed background and accent colors fit local guidelines.
No formal motion before the full commission was required for these actions because staff recorded the work as administratively approved on Aug. 1, 2025. The record shows staff sought commission input after the approvals and welcomed any alternative direction from commissioners.
The commission noted the case during its quarterly meeting and had no further formal direction. The commission’s next scheduled meeting will be the third Wednesday in September.
