Commission approves ramp extension and awning at 332 South Main Street

The Ann Arbor Historic District Commission approved an application July 9 to extend an existing ramp and add an awning at 332 South Main Street in the Main Street Historic District.

Planning services staff, represented by Jill Thatcher, told the commission the project would extend an accessible ramp about 18 feet west between 330 and 332 South Main, attach a handrail, install a new personnel door on the north elevation and add an awning spanning the narrow alley between the two buildings. Thatcher said staff had worked with the applicant to avoid damage to an adjacent stone foundation and recommended approval under the Secretary of the Interior standards 1, 2, 9 and 10 and the Ann Arbor Historic District design guidelines.

Architect Dan Sontag, speaking for the applicant, said the design aimed to maximize accessibility while minimizing impact to the adjacent building. “We proposed putting down a, I think 6 mil poly vapor barrier before the pour,” he said, describing a buffer intended to protect the neighboring stone foundation.

Commissioner discussion focused on the alley's narrowness and the project's limited visibility from the public street. The commission opened the public hearing, heard no public comment, and then moved to action. Commissioner Carter moved to issue a certificate of appropriateness for the ramp extension, awning, handrail and personnel door; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The commission’s approval is administrative: Thatcher reminded the applicant that the project must obtain all required city permits and that final work must match the approved design. The commission did not list specific vote tallies on the record.