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Commission approves Market Square rooftop addition after debate over visibility and form
Summary
The Historic Zoning Commission approved a revised rooftop addition at 32 Market Square after the applicant lowered decks and argued elevator siting reduced visibility; commissioners split on design form but a majority found the addition minimally visible and compatible.
The Commission approved a revised rooftop addition at 32 Market Square on July 17, after the applicant submitted additional line-of-sight drawings and said elevator placement allowed the rooftop elements to be lowered and made minimally visible from the right of way.
Staff had recommended postponement to require a roofline and overall design more compatible with Market Square’s character, citing the project’s complex barrel-vault roofline and multiple deck levels. Applicant Logan Higgins said the design references the existing Market Square pavilion and that recent adjustments had substantially lowered or concealed rooftop elements from public viewpoints. "We have identified where the elevator will be ... that allowed us to drop the roof ... and make it almost invisible from the right of way," he said.
Commissioners split on whether the addition’s form (a barrel vault and varied rooflines) was appropriate for the flat-roof vernacular of nearby buildings. Some said minimal visibility meant it did not harm the pedestrian experience; others deferred to staff’s call for a design that was differentiated but more compatible. On a roll call, the motion to approve as submitted passed 5–3 (with the chair also recording a favorable vote), allowing the applicant to proceed subject to any staff conditions described in the packet.
Next steps: The applicant may proceed with construction plans; staff will continue to review final details and ensure compliance with any conditions noted in the packet.
