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Commission presses applicant to reduce rear massing and simplify roof forms at 325 West Hopkins
Summary
Commissioners agreed they support keeping the landmark on site but asked the applicant to reduce the perceived mass of the two‑story rear addition, simplify dormers and roof pitches, and make materials and overhangs clearly contemporary so the new construction reads distinct from the historic house.
Commissioners praised the applicant’s preservation intent for the landmark but raised detailed design concerns about the new construction’s scale and composition.
Multiple commissioners said the rear two‑story mass “dwarfs” the one‑story historic house and recommended lowering or simplifying that massing. One commissioner asked applicants to consider reducing overhangs on the new front element and to explore smaller dormers or different pitch options for the second story; another suggested moving some of the larger massing behind the landmark so the landmark reads as the primary structure from the street.
The applicant’s architect, Wheeler Clancy, said lowering plate heights and changing roof pitches were options he could explore. Commissioners also requested a 3‑D street view or story poles for the Sept. 25 meeting so the board and public can better evaluate how the proposal will be perceived from the sidewalk. The board did not vote on design details; it continued the application to allow the applicant to return with revisions.
