MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
CONFERENCE ROOM C CITY HALL
100 E. PHOENIX AVE.
NORMAL, IL
REGULAR MEETING
August 14, 2006@ 4:00 p.m.
Members Present:
Rick Kentzler, Dennis French, Rebecca Landau, Dirk DeWerff
Members Absent:
Pam Locsin, Mark Comerford, Kathy Wilcox
Others Present:
Mercy Davison, Town Planner; Wayne Aldrich, Downtown
Re-Development;
Debbi Feid, Office Associate; Geri Koch, Micheleo’s; Nicholas
Lavorato and Matt Martin, Big Mouth’s; Larry Maschhoff, Bank of
Illinois; Mike Sparks and Brian Davies; The Farnsworth Group
Call to Order:
Ms. Landau called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes:
The commission approved the minutes of the regular meeting on June 12, 2006.
114-116 W/ North Street, Micheleo’s Building, Geri Koch, Preliminary Façade Redevelopment
Geri Koch, representing the Micheleo’s building at 114-116 W. North Street presented the drawings done by Russel Francois for the storefront redevelopment of the building. Ms. Koch said they would like to stay with a “vintage look” for the building. Ms. Koch said some of the plans are to remove the metal plates off the building and tuck point the brick. Ms. Koch said there is a possibly of having new awnings and signs.
Ms. Koch said she plans to be back to the commission in October or November with plans. The commissioners agreed that the plans for this building look good and will be an asset to the downtown redevelopment.
G Block Parking Deck, West 100 Block of College and Mulberry, current Bank of Illinois building site, Preliminary Review
Wayne Aldrich, Downtown Re-development, spoke about the plans for the new parking deck at 100 Block of College and Mulberry. Mr. Aldrich said the plan is to have 350 parking spaces, with future expansion to approximately 600 spaces.
Mr. Sparks, of the Farnsworth Group, talked about the conceptual drawing of the parking deck. Mr. Sparks said the tower would be 6 stories tall, with a common area on the 1st level. Mr. Sparks added that the plan is to also have commercial component to the deck that would wrap around the deck on the outside. This would include condominiums on the upper floors and some retail on the 1st level. Mr. Spark added that the 1st phase for the deck is the 1st thru 4th levels and currently, there are still some questions about further expansion and how it could be done.
Mr. DeWerff asked about the commercial occupancy. Mr. Sparks said it could be flexible with either one large or several small businesses.
Ms. Landau asked about the housing units. Mr. Sparks said it there would be four levels with 12 units per floor. Mr. Sparks said they would be 1 or 2 bedroom units approximately 800 to 1,000 square feet.
Ms. Landau had some concerns about the market value of one bedroom condos. Mr. Aldrich said it could be up to the developer and hopefully with this being close to the University it could attract some faculty.
Mr. Sparks said the decking would be pre-cast panels and that they are currently getting cost estimates. Mr. Kentzler said he would like to see more windows in the stairwells. Mr. Sparks said that some changes will be made to the slope of the ramps and other features.
Mr. French asked when the proposed parking deck would be built. Mr. Aldrich said hopefully as soon as the new Bank of Illinois facility is open. Construction could start next spring 2007.
Bank of Illinois Signage Plan
Mr. Davies discussed the preliminary review of the proposed signs for the new Bank of Illinois building. Mr. Davies said that they had come before the board in the spring of 2005 with a signage plan. At that time waivers were approved by the commission for the two monument signs. At a later council meeting, the Town council did not approve the waivers for signage per anticipated design code changes. Ms. Davison said that the signage plan would then have to come back before the Downtown Design Review Commission under the new sign portion of the design ordinance. Mr. Davies said the plan is still for two monument signs that are 10’ x 10’. Mr. Davies said if they were shorter, they would be harder to be seen.
Mr. French agreed that this is a larger building, and smaller signs would not be visible. Mr. Sparks spoke of the placement of the signs, and preferred not to have one on the west side of drive, because of visibility.
Ms. Davison said she would follow up with the Legal Department to see if the signage plan, though the same as the one earlier submitted and approved by the Downtown Design Review Commission, would have to officially come back to the commission for approval.
106 E. Beaufort, Big Mouths (Old What’s upTigerlily Building)
Ms. Landau commented that the proposed work qualified for an expedited review, but that she wanted to get the commissioners’ opinion on the paint colors and signage.
Mr. Lavorato presented a sketch of the building with proposed colors. Mr. Lavorato said he would like to open a Chicago Style hot dog restaurant that would have a fun attitude. Mr. Lavorato said he would like the colors orange and brown. Mr. DeWerff asked why the colors brown and orange. Mr. Lavorato said the idea came from the City of Chicago parking tickets. Mr. Lavorato said the theme is big food for a big mouth. Mr. Lavorato said there are some things he would like to do to the façade, but wants to wait until the street construction in front of the building is complete.
Mr. French said he would like the brown color to be a couple values lighter (less saturated) and not a muddy brown color. Likewise with the orange door. He also commented that the details should be accentuated with an even softer brown to really enhance the façade. The commissioners agreed that a more muted color of orange and brown might look more tasteful.
Mr. DeWerff suggested that Mr. Lavorato hire a professional painter to do the painting. Mr. Lavorato said he has been exploring the possibility. Ms. Landau said she would like Mr. Lavorato to work with the color placement more, which would enhance the architectural design of the façade.
Ms. Landau said the sign for the establishment can be done
through an expedited review.
Other Business:
Ms. Davison said Harry Fuller would like to add a soft brown tint to the windows in the NV Lounge on Beaufort Street in order to protect the wood and materials and to cut glare and excessive heat inside. The Commission was amenable to that solution.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the
meeting as adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbi Feid
Office Associate