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After‑the‑fact rooftop cabanas must go, board says; courtyard lighting and umbrellas approved with conditions
Summary
HARB approved several after‑the‑fact design elements at 44 Avenida Menendez provided rooftop cabanas are removed; staff and the board required courtyard lighting to remain only where screened, white/canvas umbrellas preferred, and a modest safety railing at the parapet.
The HARB granted conditional approval Nov. 20 for multiple after‑the‑fact changes at 44 Avenida Menendez after finding some elements incompatible with the board’s expectations for first‑period Spanish colonial design. The property owner and architect said the changes were made to improve guest comfort; public commenters criticized the installation without prior HARB review.
Key decisions and conditions adopted by the board: - Remove rooftop cabanas. The board concluded the cabanas materially altered the roofline and were not appropriate for a first‑period Spanish colonial facade; applicants agreed to remove them. - Courtyard globe lighting: staff may allow the globe lights to remain in the interior courtyard where they are not visible from the public right‑of‑way; rooftop festoon/globe lighting was removed from the terrace. - Handrail/guard: a period‑appropriate safety rail will be installed where necessary to prevent falls; staff will review final details. - Umbrellas: the board allowed blue café umbrellas with the caveat that textile/canvas choices should be compatible with AGHP guidance; staff and the applicant discussed canvas vs. synthetic colors. - Gutters: the board agreed to remove a mid‑facade continuous gutter and accept concealed or minimal gutters where necessary for weather management; copper, where used, should be consistent with the design palette.
Board members consistently criticized the process — installing significant rooftop features without prior HARB review — but acknowledged the building’s overall quality and accepted a negotiated fix. The approval passed on a roll-call vote with conditions requiring removal of the most conspicuous elements and staff review of the remaining details.
