Prescott commission denies design review for proposed Prescott Plaza Hotel, 3-2

The Prescott Preservation Commission on Oct. 20 denied the design review for the proposed Prescott Plaza Hotel, a 47-room infill project at 136–140 S. Montezuma St., voting 3-2 to reject the application (record referenced in the meeting as HP25006/HHP25-six).

The proposal called for a four-story building with an open-air terrace and retractable roof on a fourth-story patio, Juliet and full balconies facing South Montezuma Street, red brick veneer with natural stone wainscoting, and an elevator overrun. The commission's decision followed extended testimony from staff, the applicant, a contracted consultant, and 12 members of the public who raised conflicting views about compliance with the Historic Preservation Master Plan (adopted 1998) and local district design guidelines.

The denial followed a months-long review in which the city engaged Broadbent and Associates for a design analysis and solicited a voluntary review from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Alex Bramlett, the City of Prescott planning manager for community development, summarized staff materials and stated the project was before the commission for design-review approval under the Courthouse Plaza local historic district guidelines. Bramlett said the submittal was recorded as HHP25-six in city files.

Courtney…