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Commission approves partial demolition and addition for Old Ice House adaptive reuse project
Summary
The commission approved partial demolition, alterations and a two‑story brick addition at the Old Ice House (251 2nd Avenue South) to enable adaptive reuse; the applicant indicated the project would support a hotel conversion and the commission attached multiple conditions including documentation and review of new openings.
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission approved a multi-part application to partially demolish altered sections of the Old Ice House at 251 2nd Avenue South and to construct a subordinate two-story brick addition to support adaptive reuse.
Staff described the site as a contributing resource within the Downtown Franklin Historic District and recommended approval of partial demolition, the proposed alterations and the addition — subject to conditions including documentation of removed materials, in-kind replacement profiles, review of replacement window profiles that appear operable, and a rooftop guardrail altered to read as a parapet. Staff also noted concerns about painted CMU masonry and proposed the masonry remain unpainted where feasible.
Applicant Brandon Pretty of 906 Studio Architects said the project aims to adaptively reuse the industrial buildings and that the program includes hotel rooms; he told the commission the design will “tell the story” of the building as sections are uncovered and restored. He asked the commission to consider the required opening in the brick for life‑safety egress: “this will be a hotel and from a life safety standpoint, we've got to have an opening there,” he said.
During deliberations the commission amended staff conditions to allow the applicant to create the required opening in the historic brick (removing a prohibition that would have prevented removing brick for a new opening). Commissioners debated whether to allow painting of CMU masonry to unify patched or previously painted surfaces; a motion to permit painting of the CMU with staff review failed, so staff’s preference that primary masonry be cleaned and left unpainted stands. The commission also required the rooftop guardrail be designed to read like a parapet and return to the commission for final approval.
The commission voted to approve the partial demolition, the proposed alterations and the addition with the amended conditions.
Next steps: Staff will oversee documentation and in‑kind replacement submittals, review window and material profiles, and handle follow-up COA reviews for signage, refuse enclosures and other site fixtures before the project proceeds to building‑permit review.
