HomeMy WebLinkAboutHARMONY SCHOOL SHOPS PUD, FIRST FILING - FINAL - 42-89F - CORRESPONDENCE - HISTORIC PRESERVATIONE
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Community Planning and Environmental Services
Advance Planning Department
City of Fort Collins
March 12, 1997
Mark Young
Mark Young Construction
155 N. College, Suite 220
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Dear Mr. Young:
As you know, last evening the Landmark Preservation Commission
reviewed a conceptual request to rehabilitate the Harmony School.
The Commission found the work to be in keeping with the adopted
Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for
Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.
It was identified that some elements of the project are still
undecided, such as the brick sample and colors to be used for the
additions, and the gymnasium windows material. The Kalwall
windows raised some concern. The Commission requested minimizing
the HVAC on the roof, and placing any roof installations towards
the rear where they will be less visible. They asked that the
heights of the historic school building and the gymnasium remain
the same. Also it was proposed that the brick structural piers
on the addition be the same depth (411) as the historic school in
order to keep the shadow lines compatible. It is important that
the historic windows on the school be treated sensitively and not
replaced, especially since the Local Landmark Grant would likely
be used for this purpose. The Commission will also want to know
how you plan to clean the brick, if this is proposed, and
assurance that there will be an effort to match the mortar when
repointing the building.
Final review should address these elements and any others that
were left undecided. We would expect that at final review, you
would present final plans for all the work and have samples of
materials and colors selected. I can schedule the review when
you are ready.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 221-6597.
Sincerely,
Carol Tunner
Historic Preservation Planner
cc: Cathy Vutchison
281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6376
FAX (970) 224-6111 TDD (970) 224-6002
LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION
March 11, 1997
STAFF REPORT
PROJECT: Harmony School, Christian Early Childhood Center
STAFF CONTACT: Carol Tunner, Historic Preservation Planner
APPLICANT: Mark Young Construction, Inc. For Cathy Hutchison
of Christian Early Childhood Center
REQUEST: Interior Rehabilitation and Exterior Addition,
Conceptual Review For a Local Rehabilitation Landmark
Grant
BACKGROUND: The Childhood Center has purchased Lot #1 in the
Harmony School Shops, the shopping center that will be located on
the northeast corner of Harmony and Timberline Road. The 1930s
Art Deco Harmony School will restored on the exterior including
the glassed, neon -lighted side lights of the front entry.
The interior configuration will be preserved as much as possible.
On the second floor, bathrooms, back stairway and lift will be
added. On the lower level, the west half old gym/lunch room will
be converted to two more classrooms and bathrooms.
A 186 foot by 74 foot addition is proposed for the rear (for
kitchen/bathroom/storage) to wrap around to the west of the
historic school as a gymnasium. A set -back on where the addition
attaches to the west elevation will read as a building hyphen.
The addition height will not exceed Harmony School's height. The
addition's construction materials will be a combination of brick
piers with Art Deco details from Harmony School, and split -face
concrete block.
A small building on the east end of the property will be in the
way of a parking lot and it may be relocated and used to the west
of Harmony School.
STANDARDS: #1 - Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide
a compatible use for a property which requires minimal alteration
of the building, structure, or site and its environment, or to
use a property for its originally intended purpose; #2 - The
distinguishing original qualities or character of a building,
structure, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed.
The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive
architectural features should be avoided when possible; #5 -
Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled
craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, or site
shall be treated with sensitivity; #6 - Deteriorated
architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced,
wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the
new material should match the material being replaced in
composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities.
Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be
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based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by
historic, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on
conjectural designs or the availability of different
architectural elements from other buildings or structures; #7 -
The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the
gentlest means possible; #9 - Contemporary design for alterations
and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged
when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant
historical, architectural or cultural material, and such design
is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and
character of the property, neighborhood or environment; #10 -
Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to structures
shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or
alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form
and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the conceptual plans. It
absolutely meets Standard #1 for its proposed reuse from a school
to a school. The exterior main entry and windows will be
restored sensitively, meeting Standards #2, 5, 6 and 7. The
addition appears to be compatible with scale, color, material and
character. Although the size of the addition is large compared
to the school, the design of compatible features and the
necessity of the gymnasium for a very compatible reuse help to
ameliorate the difference. The LPC Design Review Sub -Committee
met on -site in late December to review the project.
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