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Applicants for 15-unit Chapala Street housing project granted more time after commission seeks design details
Summary
The Historic Landmarks Commission punted a decision on a proposed 15-unit project at 517 Chapala Street, asking for more detailed sections, contextual elevations and façade details; the applicant agreed to return and the item was continued to Jan. 29, 2025.
The Historic Landmarks Commission on Dec. 18 continued the review of a proposed 15-unit residential development at 517 Chapala St., giving the design team time to provide additional study materials requested by commissioners.
Why it matters: The project is proposed under the city's AUD (Affordable Unit Density) and the state's density-bonus rules. The site is adjacent to a structure of merit and within view of the Brinkerhoff Avenue landmark district, so commissioners said they need clearer three-dimensional drawings and facade details before making project-compatibility findings.
What the commission asked for: Commissioners requested cross sections that cut through the central courtyard and the buildingto show relationships between the street level, raised residential floors and the courtyard; a streetscape elevation showing the proposed building and adjacent structures (particularly the modern mixed-use building to the north and the two-story structure of merit to the south); additional three-dimensional views from Brinkerhoff and the alley behind the site; and enlarged details for proposed window, awning, railing and gate treatments. Several commissioners also urged the team to study the third-floor plate height and the apparent "forehead" of wall above some windows so the roofline and window proportions read more consistently across the facade. Commissioners encouraged more landscaping and softening of large plaster expanses.
Public comment: Two nearby property owners and business operators said they are concerned about parking impacts and the building's scale. One businessowner requested story poles to show the building's height in the street context; several commissioners recommended either story poles or a photo-based 3-D simulation to test public views, particularly toward the Riviera.
Outcome: The applicant agreed to return with the requested information and the commission continued the item to Jan. 29, 2025. Commissioners encouraged the team to refine the window proportions and to bring historic precedents for railings and grilles where they are proposed. Staff noted the project had been submitted as a complete application and that the continuance was requested to gather the additional design materials needed for project design approval.
