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Commission conditionally approves 5‑story office and Riverwalk segment at 350 S. Water St., with temporary access deviation and easement requirements
Summary
The commission conditionally approved two interrelated files from Pontus LLC for a five‑story office building and associated Riverwalk at 350 S. Water St., granting a temporary deviation from the overlay's 24/7 public‑access requirement because of longstanding railroad and utility encumbrances and requiring design exhibits, grading documentation and negotiation of a public‑access easement before permits.
The City Plan Commission on Jan. 26 conditionally approved two files from Pontus LLC for a five‑story office building and an associated Riverwalk segment at 350 South Water Street, granting temporary exceptions to Riverwalk overlay standards and attaching five staff conditions intended to preserve future connectivity and public access.
DCD planning described the site as an unusually narrow (maximum 41‑foot frontage) and heavily encumbered parcel with a century‑old railroad trestle and utility reservations that prevent construction of a full-length, unobstructed Riverwalk at initial buildout. Staff said the overlay requires public Riverwalk segments to be open 24 hours per day and to average 12 feet in width; the applicant proposes a compliant width where feasible but requests temporary deviation from the 24‑hour access requirement until adjacent segments connect.
Staff recommended conditions including: supplementing the project and deviation narratives and exhibits with grading and elevation analysis showing the segment can connect in the future; reflecting those elevations on permit plans; limiting approval to the building and Riverwalk as approved (null and void if the building is built differently); negotiating and executing a Riverwalk public-access easement (to be held in escrow and recorded upon completion); and confirming the deviation from 24‑hour access is temporary until adjacent segments are built.
Applicant representatives (Ally Kopit, Corp Architecture) said the design meets material and amenity standards—benches, harp lighting, native planting, cable railing and scored concrete—and is intentionally graded and gated in places to ensure public safety until future connections can be made. DCD economic development staff (Elissa Remington) outlined the city's practice of negotiating development agreements and holding a public-access easement in escrow while participating in construction funding (city participation often 70% of Riverwalk cost, with private developer contributing 30%).
Tia Tor Horst, CEO of the Harbour District, voiced conditional support and urged preserving the 5‑ft egress option in easement negotiations so future connectivity remains possible. After discussion, commissioners closed the public hearing and voted to approve item 8 and item 9 with the staff's conditions; both motions passed unanimously.
