Architectural review board approves conceptual plan for 200 West Garden Street, urges better pedestrian access and historic integration

The Pensacola Architectural Review Board on April 16 approved a conceptual design for a mixed‑use shopping center at 200 West Garden Street, directing the applicant to refine pedestrian access and more closely integrate historic wall elements into the scheme.

Rob French of Phillips Partnership presented elevations and site plans for a brick, stucco and metal‑awning development anchored by a roughly 31,000‑square‑foot grocer, a parking field, a pocket park at Ramona and Spring, and two historic wall features preserved on the site. French said the team is raising the site grade to meet floodplain requirements and is seeking feedback on materials and massing.

“Obviously we noticed there’s a lot of brick. We love brick as architects,” French said during the presentation, describing pilasters, accent tile ideas and a screened back‑of‑house area for loading. He noted the team is working to relate new pilaster elements to existing historic walls on the site.

Members praised the conceptual package’s material palette and massing but repeatedly pressed the applicant to improve walkability and street activation. The board flagged a potential dead frontage along Spring Street created by loading and back‑of‑house functions and recommended stronger, clearer pedestrian routes from Romana and Spring into the grocery’s primary entrance.

“You’ve done an excellent job. It’s a super complete conceptual package,” the chair said, while urging the team to prioritize pedestrian access so people do not have to cross the parking field to reach the store. Multiple members suggested aligning the pocket park and arcade with improved paving, landscape or minor building moves to create a more continuous pedestrian path.

Developer Jack Hallet and planner Carrie Riccio told the board that grocers and their retail partners have prototype and delivery constraints that can limit storefront shifts. Hallet said the retailer’s logistics and point‑of‑sale systems constrain where a liquor store can be located and how back‑of‑house operations are arranged, but he confirmed the developer is willing to donate and maintain the pocket park if the city accepts it.

Board members also discussed truck routing and the potential to reuse existing foundational elements to limit additional pavement. They asked the applicant to explore ways to make the Spring Street elevation and the arcade more meaningful for pedestrians, including landscaping, small entries or bakery/café seating adjacent to the park and arcade.

After discussion, a member moved to approve the conceptual plans with the expectation that the final design better addresses pedestrian access, incorporates historic elements on Spring Street more cohesively and explores site manipulations that preserve total square footage. The motion was seconded and carried with an affirmative voice vote.

Next steps for the project listed by staff include the applicant returning with a revised design addressing the board’s pedestrian‑access and historic‑integration comments.