The Northampton Historic Commission on Dec. 24 continued the public hearing on a proposed mixed-use development at the former St. Mary’s Church parking lot, saying commissioners needed further visuals to assess how the new building would read behind St. Mary’s and along State Street.

Architect Charles Roberts, representing Q&R Architects, told the commission the single building will be expressed as three distinct components to reduce apparent massing and to fit the Elm Street Historic District. The plan includes restaurants at lower levels, townhouse-style units, a connector with access to a below-grade parking garage and a main block that the presenters said would add approximately 71 residential units, 37 parking spaces, van-accessible stalls and EV-charging points. Roberts said the design uses a brick and precast base, fiber-cement siding and a light-colored metal upper setback; the upper story will sit about 10 feet back from the property line as required by zoning.

Roberts emphasized the site’s context — the property sits at the southwestern tip of the Elm Street Historic District, adjacent to downtown landmarks including the D.A. Sullivan building, the Academy of Music and Edwards Church — and showed drone and 3D renderings intended to demonstrate how the proposal would tie into surrounding facades and street geometry.

Commissioners and residents raised three recurring concerns: how much of the new building will be visible from Elm Street and the rectory behind St. Mary’s; the long stretch of louvers and garage frontage along State Street and whether the ground-floor experience would feel like a pedestrian-friendly central-business district edge; and streetscape landscaping, including whether large trees and adequate rooting volume can be provided adjacent to the building.

Resident Benjamin Spencer said he supported the project but suggested breaking up the long louvered run or converting a couple of parking stalls to active retail to improve the pedestrian experience. Resident Jen Werner urged the commission to require structural soil or other green-infrastructure solutions so street trees can reach mature size and provide shade in the downtown heat-island.

Commissioners asked the applicant for additional images showing views from Elm Street and from the nearby college campus and requested more detail on the retaining walls, terrace materials and the building’s rear elevation adjacent to the rectory. The commission voted unanimously to continue the hearing to Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. to allow the design team to provide additional visuals and to let the planning board review the project before the historic-commission issues a final certificate of appropriateness.

If the applicant returns with the requested perspectives and design clarifications, the commission said it will reconsider the certificate under the Elm Street Historic District design guidelines, which the applicant cited in explaining material choices and fenestration rhythm.