The Historic Resources Commission on Sept. 18 approved a package of findings and a certificate of approval for new construction at 1218 Mississippi Street, a vacant infill parcel at the edge of the Hancock Historic District and in the Oread Neighborhood design overlay. The project’s revised drawings — submitted after Architectural Review Committee input and again the morning of the meeting — reduced material variety, adjusted window groupings, and simplified columns and rail details to improve compatibility with surrounding properties.

Lynn Braddock Zollner, the historic resources administrator, summarized the changes and the design rationale: the applicant reduced the number of materials to a small set (rough stone at the base, a smooth stone on a vertical stair/elevator element, and horizontal lap siding elsewhere), adjusted window sizes to restore a vertical rhythm, and altered porch/balcony treatments while retaining roof decks the owner wanted as an amenity. Zollner told commissioners staff and the ARC believe the revised design “meets the intent of the Secretary of the Interior standards” and is appropriate given the site’s function as a transition between a 66‑foot KU parking garage and smaller, 35‑foot residential structures to the north.

Architect Jared Hoke said he supplied multiple options during ARC review to test approaches and welcomed the committee’s feedback: “I felt like it hopefully helped the process and allowed the ARC and Lynn to kind of better understand what the constraints were with the project.” Staff noted site constraints that make conventional siting or placing parking behind the structure impractical — vehicle access to the lot is available only from Mississippi Street and a steep grade affected the location of accessible parking stalls.

Key numeric and design details in the record: staff cited the adjacent KU garage at roughly 66 feet tall, the proposed building at about 45.5 feet, and nearby structures at roughly 35 feet, establishing a gradual height transition. In response to ARC comments and Oread overlay guidance, the applicant reduced roof overhangs on upper floors from 48 inches to 36 inches (the Oread guideline identifies a 16–36 inch range). ARC and staff also recommended cable balustrades be avoided where they would emphasize horizontality; the revised drawings use darker, simpler rail treatments and a more vertical fenestration rhythm in some elevations.

After discussion, the commission took three formal votes. First, under state historic‑review provisions the commission unanimously found the project would not damage or destroy any property on the National or State registers. The roll-call vote recorded every commissioner as “aye.” Next, after considering “the whole situation and extenuating circumstances,” the commission found the project met the intent of the Oread neighborhood design guidelines; that motion passed 5–1 (Commissioner Klein cast the lone dissent). Finally, the HRC issued a certificate of approval for the revised drawings with the condition that the Historic Resources Administrator may administratively approve “small details in fenestration, material selection, and small changes required for the site layout” during final building‑code and permit review; that motion passed 5–1 with Commissioner Klein opposed.

Commissioners who opposed or expressed reservations focused on aesthetic choices — window expanses, perceived horizontality, and the flat‑roof modern expression — while supporters emphasized the project’s role as a deliberate transition between the larger parking garage and the residential historic context, and praised the applicant for responding to ARC feedback. Architect Jared Hoke noted options explored in the process and the value of iterative ARC review; Dennis Brown of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance offered brief public support for the ARC-mediated changes.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed to building-permit review, subject to staff oversight and the stated administrative authority for limited adjustments; any material change judged to exceed that administrative authority must return to the commission.