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Historic Preservation Commission approves projecting sign for Enclave Co‑working, defers wall sign
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a projecting blade sign for Enclave Co‑working at 29 East 1st Street and continued the proposal to permanently mount a wall/gate sign so staff and the applicant can pursue alternatives and possible variances; the projecting sign recommendation passed on a unanimous roll call.
The Hinsdale Historic Preservation Commission on March 4 recommended approval of a projecting (blade) sign for Enclave Co‑working at 29 East 1st Street and continued consideration of a wall sign proposal that would be mounted to a privately owned alley gate.
Dan Johnson, general manager of Enclave Co‑working, said the business will operate from a second‑floor space above Lovado and needs exterior wayfinding; he told commissioners the entrance is set back in a pedestrian walkway and that a projecting sign would help customers find the entrance. "We need to sign somewhere on the exterior. We want to open potentially by June," Johnson said.
Staff told the commission the projecting sign falls within the types of modifications the plan commission can authorize, while mounting a permanent wall sign on the gate raised concerns about structural mounting into terracotta, damage to the existing canopy, and the sign's temporary appearance. Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives including a fixed undermount sign under the Lovado canopy, a decorative column at the alley entrance, or seeking a variance through the zoning board of appeals. The commission agreed to forward the projecting sign recommendation to the plan commission and to continue the wall sign request to a future HPC meeting so staff and the applicant can explore design changes and code routes.
Votes and process: The motion to recommend approval of the projecting sign (case A‑5‑2026) passed on a roll call with Commissioner Barkley, Commissioner Gonzalez, Commissioner Olsen and Chairman Bonham voting in the affirmative. A second motion to continue the wall sign (same case) to the next HPC meeting also carried on the same roll call. Staff offered to help the applicant with a temporary sign for the business opening while the permanent options are developed.
What commissioners said (paraphrase): Multiple commissioners expressed concern that the proposed wall-mounted solution looked temporary or “tacked on” and urged exploring ways to make a permanent, structurally sound installation or to seek a formal variance rather than leaving a low‑quality attachment in the alley.
