Designers, neighbors spar over scale of proposed five‑story mixed‑use building at 802 South Burdick

Developers from Boggan Developments and design lead Jason Novotny of TowerPinkster presented the latest iteration of a proposed five‑story, mixed‑use building at 802 South Burdick (the VINE project) to the Kalamazoo Historic District Commission, explaining material choices and massing intended to reduce the building’s perceived scale.

"The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with historic materials, features, size, scale, and proportion," Jason Novotny said while outlining the project’s use of two brick tones, metal panels and a lighter fifth floor to visually step the building down.

The commission and nearby residents raised design concerns. Commissioner Dana said after review, "I do not intend to vote in favor of this," citing the building’s height and massing in relation to adjacent houses. Multiple commissioners described the building as visually large for the immediate block and asked whether design changes could reduce the perceived scale on the Burdick frontage.

Why it matters: the proposed…