Commission approves 1100 S. Robinson redevelopment conditioned on moving building and adding canopy street trees

The Downtown Design Commission voted to approve a proposal to demolish existing structures at 1100 South Robinson Avenue and build a three-story mixed-use building, subject to conditions requiring the owner to shift the building east and incorporate canopy street trees.

Planning staff outlined the project as a 3‑story, roughly 42,000–43,000 square-foot mixed-use building with brick, aluminum composite panels and a parking lot; the dumpster enclosure will need a variance because maneuvering to service it requires use of the right of way. The owner’s representative, Sam Gresham, and the owner (Scott Halsey, referenced in the record) described design choices and noted rights-of-way discussions that could affect future streetscape improvements.

Commissioners raised questions about canopy height, the amount of glass at street level, and street trees along Robinson. One commissioner argued moving the building two feet east would enable continuous street trees and a wider sidewalk; staff and the applicant said they were willing to explore that change. “If the building moved two feet east, we could get a row of street trees and street wells and then a 5‑foot sidewalk along the whole front of that project,” said Unidentified Speaker 10.

The commission approved the application with conditions that the owner work with staff to move the building a minimum of two feet to the east and incorporate canopy street trees consistent with the Riverfront Overlay Design District, and that the applicant apply to the Board of Adjustment for a variance to allow dumpster maneuvering in the right of way.

Next steps: the applicant will pursue the Board of Adjustment variance and coordinate with staff on the building shift and tree species/cadence in accordance with the city’s street-tree guidance.