HDC approves T‑Mobile antenna replacements at Viking with visual conditions

T‑Mobile’s representative, Garrett Conroy of Centerline Communications, presented renderings and three mitigation options for antennas mounted on the Viking Hotel at 1 Bellevue Avenue: painted antennas, boxed (stealth) enclosures with faux brick, or sled/raised sled mounts. Commissioners discussed visibility, historic compatibility and precedent for painting or stealthing equipment on landmark buildings.

Commissioner Frank Balla argued against using faux brick covers and said equipment should be honest about being equipment rather than attempting to replicate masonry. “I think that’s the exact wrong thing to do,” he said when the faux‑brick stealth option was shown. Several commissioners expressed concern about larger stealth boxes that would increase visual scale and preferred the lower‑impact option of replacing and painting antennas to blend with the background.

The commission settled on a compromise motion: two antennas on the brick portion of the building will be updated and painted a solid color to blend with their brick background (not a faux masonry wrap), and the two antennas currently mounted on the rear balustrade will be replaced and painted white to match the balustrade. Commissioners explicitly rejected options that added significant bulk (boxed stealth enclosures) in favor of treatments that minimize overall increased scale and visual impact.

The motion passed by voice vote with one commissioner recording opposition based on compatibility standards. The applicant was instructed to provide mockups or color samples to the preservation planner so staff can confirm the selected finish blends with the background and meets the commission’s direction before installation.