The Historic Preservation Board on Aug. 26 approved plans for a new two‑story mixed-use building at 800 North Tamarind Avenue in the Northwest Historic District, subject to a package of staff conditions and specific design refinements requested by the board.

Representatives from Song and Associates — Renee Jonneli and principal Yoon Lee — described the project as a contemporary-vernacular, two‑story building of roughly 4,894 square feet with ground-floor office space and six micro units above. The design includes three covered parking spaces, a garage opening from the side, and French-door balconies for the micro units.

Why it matters: The site is currently vacant and located in a commercial pocket of the historic district. Approval will permit new commercial and residential activity on a corner lot and establishes architectural precedents for detailing, screening of rooftop equipment and garage treatments in this part of the district.

Board and staff discussion: Historic preservation planner Anthony Mendez outlined staff concerns and a list of recommended conditions focused on exterior detailing: proportions of openings, a more articulated parking elevation, window surround treatments to align first- and second-floor articulation, and roof‑edge/scupper details to break up the parapet. The applicant said rooftop mechanical units would be placed toward the rear; the parapet height was reported at about 4 feet 7 inches to screen equipment.

During deliberations board members agreed to remove staff's required decorative breeze-block screen at the garage elevation and to replace that condition with a requirement for a visual screen or other compatible architectural screening (examples discussed included metal screening or louvers), giving the applicant and staff flexibility on materials. The board also removed a staff condition that would have required removal of small awnings at unit entries; several members said modest awnings were appropriate in the South Florida climate to shelter unit entrances. The board left the remainder of staff conditions in place and asked staff to work with the applicant on final detailing.

The board approved the application with the revised conditions as memorialized in the staff report. Staff will verify the final screening and parapet/screener details at permit review.