Boise City commission approves neighborhood cafe at 1504 W. Lemp with material, lighting and paving conditions

The Boise City Historic Preservation Commission approved a design review for a proposed neighborhood cafe at 1504 West Lemp Street, allowing the Turpins to move forward provided they change the fireplace material, switch vertical siding to horizontal lap siding, replace uplighting with shielded or down-directed fixtures, and include some permeable paving on site.

The commission’s decision follows a staff recommendation of denial based on the department’s assessment that the contemporary storefront, clerestory windows and materials “do not meet the guidelines” and are incongruous with the district. As staff put it in its report, “Therefore, staff recommends denial.”

The project, presented by applicants Brandon and Christina Turpin and architect Rob Bueson of Humble Architects, proposes a small commercial building on the…