Planning Board approves minor design changes for waterfront hotel and mixed‑use project; adds transparency review

Planning staff and the project team presented minor revisions to the previously approved waterfront redevelopment (Rhythm Lofts and the Reverb hotel). The changes consist primarily of reduced floor‑to‑floor heights in some tower elements, removal of 23 guest rooms displaced by a new double‑height event space, and façade adjustments to the south elevation.

The applicant’s team (Gensler) explained the changes are driven by constructability and program needs; the event space — about 5,400 usable square feet with supporting pre‑function space and a kitchen — will be highly glazed and visible to users of the adjacent baseball stadium and the public plaza. The team said the rhythm of fenestration, materiality and overall massing remain consistent with the previously approved project and that the southern changes lowered part of the massing while the hotel gained an additional partial floor to offset rooms lost to the event function.

Board discussion and vote

Board members asked about mural placement, glazing, parking‑garage screening, and how the proposed changes would meet visibility and stormwater objectives near the stadium. Staff explained the submissions were referred to the full board for transparency though the package began as an abbreviated review process. After discussion the board voted unanimously to approve the minor deviations and instruct the team to continue coordination on the mural treatment, garage screening and integration of the plaza with neighboring lots.

Next steps

The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the revised design; final construction permits and coordination with adjacent parcels (Lot 4) to hide exposed parking are expected as the project moves into permitting and pre‑construction work.