Nov 13, 2023 Design

COMMISSIONER GILLIS.

UH, COMMISSIONER HOWARD.

UH, COMMISSIONER LADNER.

UH, COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY.

COMMISSIONER LUKINS.

COMMISSIONER WALLACE PRESENT.

AND COMMISSIONER, WHICH DRUG? HERE.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? NO APPELLATE COMMUNICATION TODAY.

UM, AND I THINK WE'RE WAITING ON JACKSON TOO.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER LADNER JOINED VIRTUALLY.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ALRIGHT, THEY'RE APPROVED.

DO, UH, WE GOTTA DO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE DESIGN COMMISSION FROM OUR LAST MEETING ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2023.

UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR STAFF BRIEFING, WE'RE GONNA SKIP AHEAD AND WE'RE GONNA DO OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UM,

[4. Discussion and possible action to recommend to City Council whether the project 14th and Lavaca, located at 301 West 14th Street, complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin. Presented by Leah Bojo, Drenner Group, PC]

OUR FIRST ITEM, UH, UP FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION IS THE, UH, PROJECT ON 14TH AND LAVACCA, LOCATED 3 0 1 WEST 14TH STREET, UH, TO SEE IF IT COMPLIES WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AS PRESENTED BY LEAH BOJO FROM THE DRE GROUP.

LEAH FLOOR IS YOURS.

HELLO COMMISSIONERS.

I'M LEAH BOJO WITH RENER GROUP HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.

UH, AND I AM JOINED BY PAUL SETTLES, WORKING ON ARCHITECTURE, UH, CAMERON CAMPBELL WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, AND THEN DREW ELL FROM OUR TEAM AT RENER.

UM, SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU, YOU'VE SEEN THIS PROJECT ONCE BEFORE.

UM, IT CAME BEFORE YOU LAST YEAR IN APRIL.

THIS PAST APRIL.

UM, BUT SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE AGAIN.

UM, WE'VE CHANGED IT FROM CONDO RESIDENTIAL TO HOTEL.

WE HAVE CHANGED THE FAR, WE'VE INCREASED IT, UM, FROM 15 TO ABOUT 17.

SO WE, WE, WE WILL BE GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL FOR THAT ADDITIONAL FAR.

UM, AND WE'VE ALSO REDUCED THE PROJECTS PARKING BY ONE FLOOR.

UM, SO I'M GONNA WALK YOU QUICKLY THROUGH, DO I HAVE A REMOTE OR SHOULD I JUST, JUST SAY NEXT, NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, SO I'LL JUST WALK YOU QUICKLY THROUGH SORT OF A, A REINTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME NEW FACES HERE, UM, AND THEN I WILL HAND OFF TO SOME OF MY TEAMMATES.

UM, SO THE SITE IS OWNED CBD, AND IT IS CURRENTLY SURROUNDED BY CBD AND OTHER STATE OWNED PROPERTIES.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, JUST TO KIND OF ORIENT YOU TO WHERE WE ARE IN THE DENSITY BONUS AREA, UM, WE ARE IN THE 15 TO ONE AREA AND WITH THE 400 FOOT HEIGHT CAP, SO, LIKE I SAID, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FAR, BUT WE WILL ACTUALLY, UM, BE COMPLYING WITH THE 400 FOOT HEIGHT CAP, THOUGH WE DON'T, THOUGH WE AREN'T REQUIRED TO.

UM, SO HERE'S SORT OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT.

IT IS AT THE CORNER OF 14TH AND LAVACCA 3 0 1 WEST 14TH.

UM, IT'S ABOUT 0.41 ACRES, SO IT'S A PRETTY SMALL SITE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 280 HOTEL ROOMS, UM, JUST UNDER THAT 400 FEET, 35 FLOORS.

UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKOUT OF OUR FAR AND THE, THE BONUS FAR.

THE DIFFERENCE IS, UM, 160,500 SQUARE FEET.

SO WHAT WE'LL REVIEW HERE WITH YOU, OF COURSE, IS THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

UM, AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS WITH YOU THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.

UM, WE'LL ALSO BE DISCUSSING OUR GREAT STREETS COMPLIANCE AND OUR AUSTIN ENERGY AND GREEN BUILDING GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS.

ABOUT A $1.6 MILLION, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEE IN LIE.

SO HERE, UM, JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING, UM, WE, WE USE THIS, IT'S NOT TO SCALE, BUT WE JUST USE THIS DIAGRAM TO KIND OF SHOW, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THE ENTITLEMENTS BREAK OUT.

SO UP TO EIGHT TO ONE FAR, WHICH IS THE BY RIGHT AREA, UM, UH, IS RESULTING IN OR IS THE, IS THE AMOUNT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR.

AND THEN FIF EIGHT TO 15 TO ONE IS

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UM, COMBINED WITH WE'RE AIMING FOR A THREE STAR AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING RATING.

AND THEN THE AREA ABOVE THE 15 WHERE WE'LL, WHICH WE'LL BE GOING TO COUNCIL FOR IS AN ADDITIONAL 642,000 TOTALLING ABOUT JUST OVER $2.2 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEES.

AND WITH THIS I WILL TURN OVER TO PAUL TO TALK YOU THROUGH THE BUILDING.

HI THERE.

I'M PAUL SETTLES, UH, PROJECT DESIGNER FOR THIS PROJECT.

UM, SO IN THIS VIEW, UH, WE'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OVERALL TOWER DESIGN.

UH, ORIENTATION WISE, WE'VE GOT, UM, LAVACCA STREET RUNNING NORTH SOUTH, UH, AND 14TH, UH, STREET RUNNING EAST WEST HERE.

UM, HERE YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE HOW THE INTERIOR PROGRAMMING IS INFORMING OVERALL, UH, MASSING, UH, THROUGH MATERIALITY.

UM, AT THE GROUND FLOOR, WE HAVE OUR MAIN ENTRANCE AND PUBLIC RESTAURANT SPACE, UH, WITH PARKING ABOVE.

AND THEN AT THE MAIN BREAK IN THE BUILDING'S FORM, UH, WE HAVE OUR AMENITY LEVEL THAT FEATURES A PUBLIC PATIO AND RESTAURANT, UH, WITH VIEWS OF THE STATE CAPITOL TO THE SOUTH AND DOWNTOWN.

BEYOND ABOVE, UH, THE AMENITY LEVEL ARE 26 FLOORS OF HOTEL WITH 11 ROOMS PER FLOOR.

UH, THE INDIVIDUAL BALCONIES OF THE ROOMS, UM, PROVIDE A TEXTURE AND SCALE TO THE OVERALL DESIGN AESTHETIC.

UH, THE PENTHOUSE LEVEL IS DISTINGUISHED AT THE TOP OF THE BUILDING, UH, BY LARGER HOTEL ROOMS, INSET TERRACES, UH, AND A CHANGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE FLOORS BELOW.

WE HAVE LARGE OVERHANGS PROVIDE SHADE FOR THE TERRACES, UH, AND ALSO GIVE THE TOWER A UNIQUE LOOK WITHIN THE OVERALL SKYLINE.

UH, AND THEN TO SHIELD ANY VIEWS OF ROOFTOP EQUIPMENT, UH, FROM NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, WE'VE EXTENDED THE EXTERIOR CLADDING ABOUT EIGHT FEET UP, UH, VERTICALLY ABOVE THE ROOF.

AND THEN ROTATING AROUND THE BUILDING TO THE SOUTH AND ZOOMING IN ON THAT BREAK AND THE MASSING.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LEVEL NINE AMENITY, UH, LEVEL IN MORE DETAIL, UH, IN THE FOREGROUND OF THIS VIEW, WE'RE DEDICATED.

WE'VE DEDICATED A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR SEATING TO THE, TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PLAN, REALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITE'S UNIQUE PROXIMITY TO THE STATE CAPITOL, WHICH IS BEHIND US AND TO THE RIGHT, UH, IN THIS VIEW.

ALL THE SEATING HERE AND THE INTERIOR RESTAURANT SPACE BEYOND ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

UH, FROM THE GROUND FLOOR LOBBY, WE'VE DESIGNED A RANGE OF SPACES, UH, DEFINED BY LUSH PLANTERS AND ORNAMENTAL SHADE TREES THAT PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE, VIBRANT DESTINATION.

UP HERE, ALONG WITH THE INTERIOR PROGRAMMING SHAPING THE BUILDING, UH, WE ALSO HAVE A CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR, UH, RUNNING DIAGONALLY ACROSS OUR SITE, ABOVE THIS DECK, UH, WHICH THAT GIVES THE, UH, TOWER ON THIS FACADE A, UH, ANGULAR LOOK.

UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, MOVING DOWN THE STREET FLOOR, THE STREET LEVEL, UH, YOU CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIALITY AND FACADE ARTICULATION AT THE GROUND FLOOR, WE HAVE A SERIES OF ARCHES PROVIDING A BASE FOR THE BRICK AND GLASS CLADDING, UH, FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.

THE FACADE DETAILING HERE LOOKS TO CELEBRATE LOCAL CONTEXT AND CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH MATERIALITY AND FORM.

AND WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT GREEN TILE HERE THAT'S INSPIRED BY THE CAPITOL'S COPPER ROOF, UH, COLOR AND LARGE GLASS OPENINGS ALLOW VIEWS INTO THE RESTAURANT AND LOBBY SPACE, PROVIDING AN ACTIVE STREETSCAPE.

THE SERIES OF ARCHES ANCHOR THE SITE'S PREMIUM CORNER ON THE LEFT IN THIS VIEW, UH, ALONG 14TH.

UM, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE INTERIOR PROGRAM.

UH, ALONG THAT FACADE, WE'VE LOCATED VEHICULAR ACCESS FOR THE PARKING GARAGE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THAT CORNER AND RECESSED IT FROM THE MAIN ELEVATION TO HELP SEPARATE THE VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

HERE'S OUR CORNER PATIO THAT WE HAVE ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

ON THE LEFT HERE, YOU CAN SEE A DEDICATED ENTRY TO THAT RESTAURANT, A RECESSED WITHIN THE BUILDING NEXT TO THE SEATING, UM, AND THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE, UH, HOTEL AND AND UPPER FLOOR RESTAURANT IS NOTED WITH THAT EXTENDING CANOPY, UH, FROM THE BUILDING THERE.

A SMOOTH STONE FINISH AT THE BASE OF THE COLONNADE AND BRONZE METAL WALL LIGHTS, UH, DETAILED INTO THE STONE.

AND THEN WALKING AROUND THE CORNER.

WE'RE ON THE B STREET SIDE.

NOW.

UH, WE CONTINUE WITH THE, UH, ARCHED FACADE DETAILING MATERIALITY.

THE SIDEWALK SPACE IS ACTIVATED WITH THOSE LARGE WINDOWS VISUALLY CONNECTING THE RESTAURANT SPACE.

AND THE ARCHWAY IS FURTHER DETAILED WITH GREEN ACCENT TILES TO THE LEFT OF THE WINDOW.

WINDOWS

[00:10:01]

THEN HERE, STEPPING BACK, UH, GETTING A WHOLE ELEVATION VIEW OF THE LAVACCA FACADE.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THE RESTAURANTS, HOW THE RE RESTAURANT SPACE IS WRAPPING AROUND THE CORNER, UH, AS WELL AS THE MOSAIC ARTWORK, UH, BY LOCAL ARTISTS ANCHORING THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS ELEVATION.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE HOW WE'VE MAINTAINED THE BRICK AND GLASS DETAILING ABOVE FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE RECESSED COVE LIGHTING TO EX ACCENTUATE, UH, THE ARCHED OPENINGS AND ENSCONCED LIGHTING TO MAINTAIN VISIBILITY AND ACTIVATION AT NIGHT.

HERE'S, UH, A CLOSEUP ON OUR MATERIAL PALLET, UM, BRICK ON THE FAR LEFT, THAT'S, UH, CLADDING PARKING GARAGE.

AND WE HAVE OUR ACCIDENT TILE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT ACCENT STONE TILE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, UM, WHICH IS MAKING UP THAT ARCADE, UH, DETAILING.

AND WE HAVE OUR ACCIDENT GREEN TILE INSIDE THE WINDOW OPENINGS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE DETAIL SHOT OF HOW THAT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER AND HOW THAT MAY LOOK AT AT NIGHT.

ON THE FAR LEFT, ON THE FAR RIGHT, SORRY.

NEXT SLIDE HERE.

UM, OUR GROUND FLOOR.

LOOKING, LOOKING AT THE PLAN NOW, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE BUILDING IS ORGANIZED AROUND A CENTRAL, UH, CORE OF STRUCTURE AND VERTICAL CIRCULATION.

THE FRONT OF FRONT OF HOUSE SPACES ARE ANCHORED ALONG THE STREET FRONTAGE AND OUR BACK OF HOUSE SPACES, SUCH AS TRASH LOADING AND THE ENERGY VAULT ARE, UH, LOCATED ALONG THE ALLEY.

THE MAIN ENTRY IS LOCATED, LOCATED AT THE TOP CENTER OF THE PAGE HERE OFF OF 14TH STREET.

UM, THE RESTAURANT AND LOBBY WILL BE CURATED AS ONE, UH, LARGE SHARED SPACE WITH A VARIETY OF SEATING CONFIGURATIONS, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC AND HOTEL TO SHARE.

UH, THE RE THE ROOFTOP PATIO AND RESTAURANT WILL BE ACCESSED VIA THE ELEVATORS AT THE CENTER OF THE PLAN.

AND THEN HOTEL CHECK-IN TO THE LEFT.

AND THEN MOVING, MOVING UP TO LEVEL NINE.

UH, THE PUBLIC INTERIOR SPACE IS HIGHLIGHTED USING, UH, THE SALMON COLOR AND A HATCH PATTERN TO SHOW THE EXTERIOR PUBLIC SPACE.

THE POOL, AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SPACE SHOWN IN PURPLE ARE HOTEL SPECIFIC, UH, WITHIN THE RESTAURANT SPACE.

ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PLAN, THE INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNITURE CONFIGURATION CREATE LIKE AN URBAN LIVING ROOM WITH AN ALL GLASS PERIMETER WITH VIEWS TO THE CAPITOL AND DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN THE SOUTH CORNER OF THE PLAN, WE'VE RE WE RESERVED FOR THE ROOFTOP PATIO WITH CLEAR VIEWS TO DOWNTOWN AND THE CAPITOL.

ALSO HAVE A, UM, 66 FOOT DROP OFF ZONE, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE STREET FURNITURE ZONE.

AND THEN HERE'S, UH, THE PROJECT WILL BE, UH, UM, UH, ATTAINING TWO STAR AGB, BUT, UH, TARGETING THREE STAR.

UM, AND WAYS WE'RE DOING THAT IS INCREASED BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE, EV CHARGERS, UH, AND SUSTAINABLY SOURCED MATERIALS.

NEXT SLIDE AND GOOD EVENING.

UH, CAMERON CAMPBELL, UH, THE PROJECT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.

I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE SITE PLAN AND THE GREET STREETS COMPLIANCY IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY, JUST TO ORIENT EVERYONE AGAIN, UH, LA VACA IS ON THE EAST, AND, UH, 14TH IS ON THE NORTH.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY TO THE SOUTH, AND OUR PROPERTY ABUTS THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, UM, UH, TO THE, TO THE WEST.

UM, THIS, UH, FOR SCALE PURPOSES, THE SIDEWALK, UM, ALONG LAVACCA IS 10 FEET WIDE, AND THE, UM, SIDEWALK ALONG 14TH IS 12 FEET WIDE.

UM, WE ARE ACTUALLY EXPANDING OUT THE CURB LINE ON LAVACCA TO ALIGN WITH THE BLOCK TO THE NORTH, THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND PEDESTRIAN AREA BY EIGHT FEET.

ALSO, ON THE LAVACA SIDE, WE HAVE, UM, SOME STATE-OWNED PARKING SPOTS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN.

UM, AND WE THOUGHT THE POSITIONING OF THOSE, UM, SPOTS WOULD BEST ALIGN WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY VAULT, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE TREES IN THAT AREA ANYWAY FOR THE ACCESS.

SO WE'RE KIND OF KEEPING THAT AREA OPEN.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE PROPOSED, UM, MOSAIC MURAL WILL BE WITHIN THE ARCHWAY ALCOVES ON THAT PORTION.

UM, ALONG 14TH STREET, WE HAVE, UM, NOT ONLY THE, THE 12 FOOT SIDEWALK, WE

[00:15:01]

UM, AND ALSO ALONG THAT SECTION OF 14TH, UM, ON THE FAR WESTERN PORTION, WE HAVE A, A WATER METER THAT WE'RE HAVING TO WORK WITH ON THAT FAR WESTERN SIDE, UM, NOT ALLOWING US TO PUT IN A STREET TREE THERE.

UM, ALWAYS TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE UTILITIES, UM, TO TRY TO OPTIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF STREET TREES.

SO WE THOUGHT THE BEST SOLUTION HERE IS TO HAVE FOUR CONTIGUOUS TREES ON BOTH LA VACA AND 14TH STREET, AND REALLY PLAY UP THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE OF THAT INTERSECTION WHERE MOST OF THE GATHERING WILL TAKE PLACE.

UM, YOU'LL ALSO SEE A VERY RHYTHMIC PATTERN OF SOCK CUT AND SANDBLASTED CONCRETE IN ADDITION TO, UM, STONE PAVING AT THE FRONT ENTRYWAY OF THE, THE LOBBY, THE RETAIL AND THE RESTAURANT SPACE.

UM, AND ALSO AT THE, UM, OUTDOOR DINING AREA, WHICH IS UNDER THE BUILDING OVERHANG UNDER THE ARCHWAY COLON AID.

UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE JUST, UH, WANTED TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE, THE ELEMENTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PRETTY STANDARD GREAT STREETS.

UM, FOR THIS QUARTER BLOCK SITE.

WE HAVE FOUR BIKE RACKS ON EACH SIDE AND TWO BENCHES.

WE HAVE TWO, UM, PEDESTRIAN STREETLIGHTS.

WE HAVE THE TRASH CANS AT THE INTERSECTION.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE, UM, UH, PRECEDENT IMAGES OF THE MATERIALITY OF THE SAW CUT AND SANDBLAST PATTERN THAT WILL RELATE TO THE ARCHWAYS OF THE BUILDING, REALLY TYING THE BUILDING INTO THE, TO THE STREET SCAPE.

UM, IN ADDITION, UM, SMOOTH STONE PAVING EMBEDS, UM, ALONG THE FRONT ENTRYWAY IN ADDITION TO STEEL EMBEDS, WHICH WE THINK IS GONNA BE A REALLY NICE, UM, DECORATIVE ACCENT TO REALLY HELP, UM, BRING SOME INTEREST TO THE, THE ENTRY SIDE.

UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THE INFLUX AND E INGRESS EGRESS OF TRAFFIC INTO THE PARKING GARAGE.

UM, SO WE'RE PROPOSING A 12 INCH WIDE, UH, DETECTABLE WARNING STRIP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE, UM, VEHICULAR ENTRY INTO THE PARKING GARAGE IN ADDITION TO SIGNAGE, UM, AT THAT ENTRYWAY, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, SO RELATED TO STREET, UH, TO TREES AND PLANTINGS, UM, RED OAKS ALONG LAVACCA AND CEDAR ELMS ALONG 14TH STREET, WHICH WE THINK WILL TIE IN NICELY WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED ACROSS THE STREET.

UM, STEEL PAVER GRATES, UM, AND THEN NATIVE GRASSES AND SEGS AND, UM, SITE APPROPRIATE VEGETATION, WHICH WILL ALSO WRAP AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING ON, UM, BOTH LAVACCA AND 14TH STREET.

ANYWHERE WHERE WE CAN CREATE A NICE LAYER AND BUFFER BETWEEN THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE LANDSCAPE.

UM, THAT VEGETATION WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE, UM, IN AREAS IN BETWEEN THE STREET FURNITURE WHERE WE, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME IN-GROUND PLANTING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE VIEWS.

THIS IS LOOKING AT THE INTERSECTION, 14TH AND LA VACA.

YOU CAN SEE THE STREET TREES, THE STREET FURNISHING, UH, FURNISHING ZONE, THE PAVER, UM, AND, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE SAW CUT AND SANDBLASTED PATTERN STREETLIGHTS, UM, AND SO ON FROM THIS INTERSECTION ALONG WITH THE, UH, PLANTING STRIPS AT THE CORNER.

SO THIS IS THE VIEW OF 14TH STREET AT THE, THE ENTRYWAY TO THE RESTAURANT AND THE LOBBY, YOU CAN SEE THE DROP OFF ZONE WHERE WE'VE EXTENDED THE PAVING PATTERN OUT ACROSS THE CURB LINE FOR, UM, UBER LYFT DROP OFF, UM, ACCESS TO ACCESS THE, THE, UM, RESTAURANT AND THE HOTEL, UM, THE BIKE RACKS AND THE STREET FURNISHING ZONE, AND THEN THE 12 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK WITH THE PAVING EMBEDS, THE STEEL EMBEDS, AND THE, UM, STONE ON THE GROUND PLANE ALONG WITH THE VEGETATION.

SO THIS IS KIND OF MORE OF THE, THE PROMINENT VIEW UPON THE ENTRYWAY.

UM, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE A LITTLE BIT TO THE, TO THE, TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING.

THE, UM, ENTRYWAY EXTENDS OUT AND KIND OF CREATES A SHELTERED CONDITION, UM, HELPING KIND OF CREATE A PUBLIC VISUAL TO DRAW PEOPLE IN.

UM, WE WANT THEM TO COME UP AND ACCESS THE, THE ROOF TERRACE, SINCE THAT'S GONNA BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

UM, THE PLANTING STRIPS ON EITHER SIDE, WHICH ACTUALLY WRAP ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CORNER, UM, AND THE PAVING PATTERN, UM, ALL FLUSH, ALL ADA ACCESSIBLE, UM, MEETING ALL CODE CRITERIA.

THIS IS LOOKING AT THAT INTERSECTION A LITTLE BIT CLOSER UP.

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YOU CAN KIND OF FOCUS IN ON THE, UM, OUTDOOR, UM, SEATING TERRACE THAT'S BUFFERED BY A RAISED PLANTER.

UM, THE PLANTING KIND OF WRAPS AROUND, UM, AND HOW THE COLONNADE, UM, ARCHWAYS REALLY KIND OF WRAP AROUND BOTH SIDES OF, UH, THIS INTERSECTION.

AND THE SAW CUT AND SANDBLASTED PATTERN CONTINUES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

OKAY, , THANK YOU ALL.

WE WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IN MORE DETAIL SINCE WE ONLY HAD A COUPLE FOLKS THAT WERE ABLE TO COME TO THE WORKING GROUP, SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, HANGING WITH US ON THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, SO NOW I'LL WORK THROUGH WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE WORKING GROUP AND WHAT CHANGES WE'VE MADE AS A RESULT.

UM, SO OUR OVERALL WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THEY, Y'ALL WERE NOT SURE THAT WE COMPLIED.

SO WE, UM, HAVE GONE THROUGH THESE, UM, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I'LL, I'LL KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND OF COURSE, WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THE END.

AND WE DID GO TO WORKING GROUP ON NOVEMBER 1ST.

AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU REMOVE THE NON-COMPLIANT, UM, IF YOU MOVE THE REMOVE, THE NOT APPLICABLE, WE'RE AT 40 OUT OF 41 ARE EITHER COMPLIANT OR PARTIALLY COMPLIANT.

UM, SO I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, UM, THIS IS WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE MINIMIZING CURB CUTS.

UM, WE'VE CLO ALL OF THOSE RED STRIPS ARE CURB CUTS TODAY.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE MINIMIZED IT DOWN TO JUST THE ONE, UM, CURB CUT ON THE SIDEWALK FOR, UM, ENTRY.

UM, WE'VE ALSO, OF COURSE, ARE INSTALLING STREET TREES AND REINFORCING PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.

UM, SO HERE WE HAVE, UM, PROTECTING THE PEDESTRIAN WHERE THE BUILDING MEETS THE STREET, REINFORCING THAT PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, ENHANCING STREET SCAPE, INSTALLING STREET TREES, OF COURSE, UM, PEDESTRIAN SCALE LIGHTING.

I KNOW THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S COME UP A COUPLE TIMES, AND SO WE WANTED TO REALLY SHOW, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT UNDER THAT BUBBLE, BUT THERE, YOU SAW IT IN ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT, UM, THAT PAUL SHOWED THAT WE'VE REALLY ACCENTUATED THE, UM, THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING, UM, AND PROVIDING GENEROUS STREET SCALE WINDOWS AND, UM, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY MATERIALS AS PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

UM, SO THIS IS OUR CIVIC ART THAT, UM, CAMERON MENTIONED.

SO I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A LAST TIME WHEN WE WERE WITH YOU BEFORE ON THE DIFFERENT PROJECT, WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCORPORATE CIVIC ART, AND IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

I THINK THIS IS A MUCH BETTER MATCH.

UM, WE'VE, WE'VE PUT IT INTO THOSE ARCHWAYS SO THAT IT REALLY DOES FIT IN THE BUILDING.

WE'RE, WE'RE THINKING SOMETHING LIKE A MOSAIC.

WE HAVE NOT OF COURSE, FOUND THAT ARTIST YET, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO, UM, USE A SPACE THAT WE CAN'T PUT TREES ON, HAVE A VISIBILITY, A HIGH VISIBILITY AREA, AND, UM, BUT ALSO, UM, TO, TO INCORPORATE LOCAL CHARACTER INTO THE BUILDING.

AND WE WILL HAVE, IT'S NOT SHOWN IN THIS, UH, RENDERING, BUT WE WILL HAVE LIGHTING IN THOSE ARCHWAYS ABOVE, SO AT NIGHT AS WELL THAT, UM, THAT ARTWORK WILL BE VERY VISIBLE.

UM, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, SO THIS IS A CIRCULATION MAP.

UM, WE, I THINK, UH, WHEN WE WERE WITH THE WORKING GROUP, WE TALKED A LITTLE, THERE WERE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WOULD MOVE THROUGH AND AROUND THE BUILDING.

UM, SO WE THINK THIS IS, WE'RE HOPING THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO SORT OF SHOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IS THERE A RESTAURANT AT THE GROUND FLOOR RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT, BUT ALSO, UM, THAT ENTRY AND THERE'S AN ENTRY INTO JUST THE RESTAURANT.

THERE'S ALSO AN ENTRY INTO THE LOBBY AND THE RESTAURANT TOGETHER, WHICH IS SORT OF AN INCORPORATED SPACE.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN, THERE'S SOME RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU CAN GRAB A DRINK AND WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE TABLE, YOU CAN KIND OF USE LOBBY TABLES AND CHAIRS.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY A MIXED AREA.

UM, AND THEN ALSO THAT ENTRY INTO THE, INTO THE LOBBY AND RESTAURANT IS WHERE YOU WOULD GO INTO THE ELEVATORS TO GO UP TO THE NINTH FLOOR PUBLIC SPACE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T EVEN THE LOBBY PORTION OF THIS SPACE WILL REALLY BE A VERY ACTIVE SPACE.

IT'LL BE INCORPORATED INTO, UM, BOTH RESTAURANTS REALLY.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, SO THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAME UP IN THE WORKING GROUP WAS, WAS THE PUBLIC VIEWS.

SO YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM KIND OF HOW MUCH OF THAT TOP NINTH FLOOR SPACE HAS A PUBLIC VIEW, UM, AVAILABLE TO IT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR THAT WE'VE IN, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE CUT INTO.

AND SO WE HAVE AN, A REALLY AMAZING VIEW FROM THAT NINTH STORY.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE , WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT FOR A PUBLIC VIEW, ESPECIALLY NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO LOOK AT THE CAPITOL, UM, FROM THAT ANGLE.

SO IT'S GONNA BE, UM, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY WELL USED AREA BY THE PUBLIC.

CAN SEE THE CONTRAST, THE METAL INLAY, UM, THE TREES, OF COURSE.

UM, AND SO THIS, ON THIS IMAGE YOU CAN SEE, UM, AGAIN, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT OUR TEAM HAS TALKED ABOUT ALREADY.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE WAY THE PAVERS DELINEATE THE PUBLIC ZONE, THE PUBLIC SPACE, AND THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE FROM THE BUILDING.

UM, YOU

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UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HOW THOSE WINDOWS REALLY ARE, ESPECIALLY AT THE GROUND FLOOR.

AND THE, AND THE, UM, THE CAN, THE, THE ARCHES , THANK YOU, REALLY DO CREATE A DIFFERENT FEEL THERE AT THE PEDESTRIAN LEVEL THAN A LOT OF BUILDINGS HAVE DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, AND THEN THIS IMAGE WE WANT WE ADDED TO SHOW, WE ADDED SOME SIGNAGE THERE, SO YOU CAN GO INTO THE RESTAURANT EITHER DIRECTLY OR YOU CAN GO IN THROUGH THE LOBBY ENTRANCE AND KIND OF LIKE MAKE YOUR WAY, THE WAY I WAS DESCRIBING.

UM, SO WE REALLY WANTED TO SHOW HOW THAT WILL WORK, CLARIFYING BOTH ENTRANCES.

UM, AND WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE MYSELF AND MY TEAM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UM, YOU ADDRESSING THE WORKING GROUP COMMENTS, UH, IN THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU DID.

UH, AT THIS POINT, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER HOWARD, UH, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE GLAZING AT THE KITCHEN OF THE RESTAURANT ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

UM, IT, IT LOOKED LIKE IN THE RENDERING IT WAS GLAZED, BUT I'M CURIOUS HOW COMMITTED Y'ALL ARE TO THAT.

YEAH, SO, UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, RETAIL COMPONENT YET, BUT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT SOMETHING AS AN OPEN KITCHEN, BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE AS WELL AS SPILLING OUT INTO THE RESTAURANT SPACE.

BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING CURATED, UH, BY THE TENANT.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? CAROL, COMMISSIONER CAROL? THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, I'LL START, I GUESS BY SAYING I THINK IT'S A VERY HANDSOME BUILDING AND, UM, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU'RE USING THE ARTWORK TO, TO SCREEN THE VAULT.

UH, THAT SAID, I DO HAVE SOME OTHER COMMENTS.

UM, THE PARKING IS BREAKING MY HEART.

UH, THIS AREA IS SURROUNDED BY STATE GARAGES.

THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES, JUST LIKE THE, THERE'S ANOTHER HOTEL A FEW BLOCKS UP THE STREET THAT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY PARKING AT ALL.

UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE PARKING THIS ALMOST ONE SPACE PER KEY, I THINK.

UM, IT'S A LOT OF PARKING, SO, UH, AND THEN ON THE GARAGE ALSO, I, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE DIFFERENTIATION IN PAVING.

UM, IT'S ALSO NICE TO HAVE SOME PEDESTRIAN PROTECTIONS AT THE GARAGE.

THERE'S NO OVERHANGS OR ANYTHING IF, IF A PEDESTRIAN HAS TO WAIT AND INCLEMENT WEATHER FOR CARS COMING AND GOING, IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THERE WAS A PLACE THAT THEY COULD DO THAT COMFORTABLY.

UM, SO SOMETHING TO TO THINK ABOUT.

UM, ALSO, UH, THE, THE ARCHWAYS ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE, BUT WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THEM IS THE HUMAN SCALE.

THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE MAYBE 25 FEET OR SOMETHING TALL.

UM, AND SO WHILE ON THE BUILDING THEY LOOK GREAT, BUT AS YOU INTERACT WITH THEM, WHEN YOU SEE THE, THE ENTOURAGE AND THE RENDERINGS, IT LOOKS WAY OUT OF SCALE TO TO, TO REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THAT SPACE.

AND THEN LASTLY, UM, THE BIGGEST ONE FOR ME, AND I FEEL LIKE THE RENDERINGS EVEN REINFORCE THIS WITH, WITH LANDSCAPING SORT OF BUTTED UP ALL AROUND THE BUILDING, IS I SEE VERY LITTLE STREET ACTIVATION.

I MEAN, THERE'S GREAT STREETS THAT IS REQUIRED, BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE CORNER FOR THE RESTAURANT, BUT IT'S ALSO TUCKED BACK UNDER THE ARCHWAY.

AND I COULD SEE HOW THERE COULD BE VERY LITTLE TO, TO NO ACTIVATION AND THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT SPACE VERSUS PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK.

UM, AND SO THAT'S THE REALLY THE MOST PROBLEMATIC TO ME ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THERE'S LIKE A, YOU'RE INSIDE OR YOU'RE OUT.

UM, AND THERE'S REALLY NOTHING HAPPENING.

UM, SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THERE'S A PORTION OF THE SEATING THAT IS, THAT IS TUCKED INTO THAT CORNER BUT IS NOT COVERED.

SO JUST ONE, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THE ARCHES ARE 15 FEET TALL, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS.

AND, UM, THE, WE ARE PLANNING FOR OUTDOOR SEATING AS WELL AS THERE'S A PORTION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT SIDE IT IS, DREW.

[00:30:01]

AND THEN THERE'S A PORTION THAT'S COVERED, AND THEN THERE'S OF COURSE INSIDE WITH, UM, WITH THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE WINDOWS.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT THERE ARE SORT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF, OF, IT'S NOT, WE, WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING NOT TO MAKE IT INDOOR OUTDOOR, BUT ACTUALLY HAVE KIND OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INDOOR NESS OR OUTDOORNESS YOU'RE SAYING AT THE CORNER.

MM-HMM, .

YEAH, THE, I GUESS IT'S THE RENDERINGS MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST REALLY TUCKED IN THERE.

IT'S A LITTLE DARK.

I DID NOTICE THAT.

UM, BUT IF, IF YOU 35, COULD YOU PULL UP, DO YOU MIND PULLING UP SLIDE 35 PLEASE? 35? THERE IS, THERE IS PLANNED TO BE SIDEWALK SEATING AND THEN THERE'S A PORTION OF THAT CORNER THERE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CARROLL.

THAT IS OUT ALL THE WAY OUTSIDE AND SEE ON THE LACA SIDE, ACTUALLY THE ONE YOU JUST HAD WOULD BE PERFECT.

WAS PERFECT.

I SEE ON THE LOCA SIDE'S A LITTLE BIT OUT.

YEAH, THAT'S BETTER FOR SURE.

BUT IT'S A TINY LITTLE PIECE TOO.

UH, , I, SORRY.

ONE, ONE OTHER THING THAT'S, I MEAN, AGAIN, AND I LIKE THE ARCHES, BUT EVEN AT THE, I GUESS THE ENTRY, THERE'S A LITTLE CANOPY.

I MEAN, THE ARCHES, THERE'S NO HIERARCHY AS TO LIKE WHERE THE BUILDING ENTRANCE IS, RIGHT? I MEAN, I SEE THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE ROOF STICKING OUT OF ONE OF 'EM, ASSUMING THAT'S THE BUILDING ENTRANCE, IT'S, UH, ON THE RIGHT.

BUT, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ARCHES ITSELF COULD CREATE SOME HIERARCHY THERE TOO.

SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? I MAY, UH, COMMISSIONER RE UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, UH, APOLOGIES.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THAT WORKING GROUP MEETING AND, UH, I WAS NOT.

AND, UH, APOLOGIZE TO THE APPLICANT FOR THAT.

UM, I THINK, UH, APPRECIATE THE TIME GOING IN AND, AND, UH, MAKING, UH, THAT A PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

THIS IS A VERY HELPFUL, CONCISE PRESENTATION.

UM, UH, AND MUCH APPRECIATED.

I ECHO COMMISSIONER CARROLL'S.

UM, I THINK THE, THIS IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GORGEOUS BUILDING.

UM, I REALLY LIKE THE FOCUS ON THE MATERIALS, UH, COMMEND THE COORDINATION BETWEEN, UH, LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE ON, ON THE, THE MATERIALS OF THE, OF THE HARDSCAPE AS WELL AS THE, AS THE FRONT.

UM, I HAVE, UH, A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT SORT OF POPPED UP THAT DON'T NEED AN ANSWER TODAY, BUT JUST FOR, UH, UH, THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT GRADING UP, UM, FROM THE LANDING AREA, FROM THE DROP OFF AREA IS A VERY NICE TOUCH.

UM, IT'S HARD TO DO, UH, 'CAUSE YOU'RE COVERING YOU, AND TO MAKE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDER 5% IS, IS A CHALLENGE I'M SURE THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT AND, AND THAT GRADING WORKS OUT.

UM, BUT I, I, UM, WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T END UP WITH ANY SORT OF TRIP, UH, CORNERS, UH, ON THOSE TREES.

BUT, UM, APPLAUD THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT, THAT'S A REALLY NICE TOUCH.

UH, I QUESTION WHETHER THE, THE, UM, DETECTABLE PAVERS ARE, UM, LEGAL AT, UM, OR, OR ACCEPTABLE AT THE DRIVEWAY.

UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AT DRIVEWAY CUTS.

I LOVE THE IDEA.

UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT.

AND IT'S, IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT WE TALKED TO STAFF AND, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE WAS HAPPY ABOUT IT.

I SUPPOSE IF IT'S NOT ALLOWED, WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT.

BUT THAT'S, WE DID RUN IT BY, I THINK AT THE LAST, OR AT THE WORKING GROUP MEETING, THIS IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES UP, YOU KNOW, IS HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT, UM, THAT CONFLICT POINT.

AND SO WE WANTED TO, WE DIDN'T WANNA MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS AT THAT TIME WITHOUT SEEING IF STUFF WOULD APPROVE IT.

SO HOPEFULLY, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE A RAZZ ON THE TEAM WHO COULD CONFIRM THAT IN DESIGN TOO.

SO JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

UM, LOVE THE FOCUS ON THE TREES.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE KIND OF RESPONDING TO THE TREES ACROSS THE STREET.

UM, WITH, WITH THE GREAT STREETS, UM, YOU KNOW, I AM LESS OF A STICKLER ABOUT THE 22 FEET.

UM, I THINK YOU'VE GOT THAT FRONTAGE AND, AND DOLING OUT THAT SPACE THAT IS IN A WAY THAT WOULD BEST, UM, UH, SUIT THE, UH, PEDESTRIAN NATURE OF THAT STREET AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF THE TREES.

UH, APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION ON WHY THE TREE WASN'T, UH, IN THE, IN THE, UH, IN THE CORNERS THERE WITH THE UTILITY CONFLICTS.

UM, THE, THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO KINDA LAND ON, AND I I ECHO COMMISSIONER CARROLL'S, UM, YOU KNOW, LAMENT ABOUT THE PARKING AND, AND CERTAINLY WISH THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT LESS PROMINENT AND LESS A PART OF THE BUILDING.

AND, UH, FIND WAYS JUST AS YOU KNOW, BROADLY TO ACTIVATE THE SECOND STORY OF BUILDINGS, UM, WHICH ARE SO OFTEN OCCUPIED BY PARKING PLANTS.

UM, THAT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING WE, WE GET WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT I, I FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT IT BEARS SAY 'CAUSE I, I HOPE WE CAN MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AS

[00:35:01]

A COMMUNITY.

THE THING THAT CHASED ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ONE IS THE ENTRANCE TO THE, TO THE RESTAURANT.

UM, AND I UNDERSTAND PROGRAMMATICALLY WHY THAT'S SET UP TO BE IN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOTEL ENTRANCE, UM, WITH THE PICKUP AREA OFF OF UM, 14TH STREET.

UH, BUT NOWHERE IN THIS PRESENTATION HAVE WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT CONNECT IS GOING TO BE PUTTING, UH, A LIGHT RAIL DOWN LAVACCA.

AND THAT REALLY MAKES LAVACCA THE FRONT DOOR OF THIS BUILDING INSTEAD OF 14TH STREET.

UH, NOW YOU'VE GOT THE, YOU'VE GOT PROGRAMMATIC CHALLENGES, DRIVEWAYS, AUSTIN ENERGY THAT ARE GONNA MAKE TURNING THE INCOME.

I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO JUST TURN THE WHOLE BUILDING, UH, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT RESTAURANT COULD REALLY SIGNAL ITS PRIMARY ENTRANCE AS NOT BEING THROUGH THE HOTEL LOBBY, BUT BEING AT THAT CORNER, UM, IN THE MIDWEST, YOU'VE GOT THIS GREAT TYPOLOGY OF THE CORNER RESTAURANTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND, UM, IT'S REALLY ACTIVE FROM BOTH SIDES.

I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT HAVING, UH, YOU KNOW, A DIAGONAL, A REALLY STRONG ENTRANCE AT HOLDING THAT CORNER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO ACTIVATE THE STREET SCAPE BETTER THAN A COUPLE TABLES OF DINING.

UH, I THINK A COMMISSIONER PREVIOUS SAID ON ANOTHER PROJECT THAT, THAT OUTDOOR DINING ISN'T REALLY CONTRIBUTING A LOT TO THE, UH, STREET SCAPE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE, I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE DESIGN ASK TO, TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THAT AND REALLY HOLDING DOWN THAT CORNER.

UM, 'CAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRANSIT USERS AND, AND ARE, ARE GOING TO BE APPROACHING FROM THE STOP AT 15TH STREET.

UH, THAT REALLY TO ME SIGNALS THAT THIS RESTAURANT IS A RESTAURANT FOR EVERYBODY IN AUSTIN AND NOT, UM, SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY INTENDED FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE JUST STAYING AT THE HOTEL.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY.

I ALSO HAD THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE WORKING GROUP AND LET'S TALK NOT AVAILABLE, SO I APOLOGIZE.

BUT, UM, QUICK THOUGHT QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING, PUTTING THE DETECTABLE WARNING PAPERS AT THE GARAGE, AND I THOUGH I THINK THE HOTEL ENTRY AS PRESENTED IS VERY SEXY.

UM, BUT YOU CAN WALK RIGHT OUT INTO TRAFFIC IF YOU USE A MOBILITY DEVICE.

SO THERE IS GONNA BE NEED TO BE SOMETHING THAT THAT SIGNALS THAT YOU ARE ENTERING INTO THAT DROP-OFF PICKUP ZONE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE CONFLICTS WITH CARS.

UM, AND ALSO AS PART OF THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES TO PROTECT THE PEDESTRIAN.

AND IT, MY MIND JUST GOES TO LIKE THE WORST PLACE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A WIDE BREADTH OF OPENING THAT YOU HAVE NO FURNITURE, YOU HAVE NO CURB, YOU HAVE NO TREES FOR SOMEONE WHO DECIDES TO DRIVE THEIR CAR INTO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

SO IS THERE SOMETHING, I KNOW IT INTERRUPTS THAT BIG, BEAUTIFUL ENTRY, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING THAT KIND OF PROTECTS THAT AREA FROM I I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT FEEDBACK.

UM, PERHAPS A BOLLARD IN THAT AREA WOULD, WOULD DO JUST THAT TO PROTECT THE PEDESTRIAN, UM, WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IT AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE.

AND VISUALLY CARRY THROUGH.

UM, BUT I, I THINK A BALLARD COULD BE A GOOD, GOOD SOLUTION THERE.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WAS IT ALL MY FEEDBACK.

WOULD BE, UM, VERY, UM, IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE A LOT, I THINK, TO THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ALONG THE VACA.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS CHAIR IF I MAY? YES, PLEASE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, I AGREE.

I THINK IT'S A VERY HANDSOME PROJECT.

I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE MATERIALITY THAT YOU'VE SELECTED.

I THINK THE, UM, THE BRICK AND ALSO THE TEXTURE ON THE GROUND SURFACES THAT YOU'RE EMPLOYING, UM, ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO GIVE IT AN AIR OF QUALITY AND THOUGHT AND CARE AND CONSIDERATION IN THE DESIGN.

UM, I, I DO, UM, WANT TO QUESTION HOWEVER, THE APPROACH TO THE SOUTH FACADE AND, UM, I THINK THIS GOES IN MY MIND TO, UM, THE CATEGORY PSS 0.4, THE ENHANCING THE STREETSCAPE, UM, REQUIREMENT.

AND GIVEN THAT LAVACCA IS A NORTHBOUND TRANSIT ROUTE WAY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND, UM, TRYING TO GET THAT, UH, GET TO THAT, YOU KNOW, 8 0 1 RAPID TRANSIT METRO BUS STOP.

AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE SOUTH CORNER, THE SOUTH ELEVATION, UM, FEELS A LITTLE IGNORED.

UH, I, I APPRECIATE THE MURAL, UM, OCCUPYING THE THREE ARCHES ON THE EAST FACADE.

UM, HOWEVER YOU WRAP THE BRICK AND YOU WRAP THE ARCHES, BUT, BUT THE MURALS DON'T WRAP OR THE ARTWORK DOESN'T WRAP, AND SO YOU DON'T REALLY GET A VISUAL SIGNIFIER OF A PUBLIC SPACE.

AND, UH, THE, THE VIEW AS YOU POINTED OUT IS, IS GONNA BE SPECTACULAR.

AND I THINK HAVING THAT ARTWORK WRAPPED TO THE SOUTH SIDE AND PROVIDING A SIGNPOST TO SAY, THIS IS A PUBLIC BUILDING COME UP TO THIS, UM, UPPER LEVEL, YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, FIND A SPECTACULAR AMENITY UP HERE

[00:40:01]

UM, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT THE FACT THAT THE ARCHES DO HAVE LIGHTING IN THEM, I THINK HOWEVER DYNAMIC THAT ARTWORK IS GOING TO APPEAR WILL DEPEND ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE LIGHTING IS.

UH, THE BRICK IS VERY DARK AND HEAVY AND DOES HAVE A LOT OF DEPTH TO IT.

AND SO I THINK TO, UM, JUST CREATE A MORE FRIENDLY, PLEASING, SORT OF INVITING, UM, SITUATION ON THAT SOUTH CORNER, I WOULD EQUALLY RECOMMEND WRAPPING THE PLANTING, UH, TO AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU DO HAVE A, THE ELECTRICAL GEAR WITHIN THAT CORNER TUCKED IN.

UM, BUT, BUT AT THIS MOMENT I FEEL THE SOUTH FACE, YOU KNOW, CARS DRIVING UP THAT STREET IS GONNA APPEAR VERY BLANK AND, AND NOT, UH, ENGAGING, UM, AS MUCH AS IT AS IT COULD BE.

UM, SO SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE THOUGHTS ON, ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

I DID, UH, ALSO JUST WANT TO ASK REGARDING THAT UPPER AMENITY DESK, UH, DECK.

SORRY, IT WASN'T CLEAR WHAT THE INTENT WAS FOR THE NORTHWEST CORNER.

I KNOW THE VIEW TO THE SOUTHEAST IS SPECTACULAR, BUT ON THAT NORTHWEST, UH, I DID SEE SOME SORT OF GATED SECTIONS AND I WONDERED WHETHER THAT WAS ALSO ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SAY THERE IS A PORTION OF THAT NINTH FLOOR IS, IS HOTEL AMENITY, UM, WHICH WOULD BE FOBBED LIKE THE POOL FOR LIABILITY REASONS, OBVIOUSLY.

AND THEN THE, BUT A A PROBABLY TWO THIRDS OF IT, OVER HALF OF IT IS IT'S PUBLIC AND PART OF THAT RESTAURANT.

SO THAT'S A PLACE WHERE SOMEONE, THERE'LL BE TABLES AND THINGS OUT AND THEN ALSO PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE A DRINK AND LOOK OUT.

UM, WE SHOWED THIS THE ONE, THE, THE EXCITING VIEW OF THE SOUTHEAST, BUT PEOPLE COULD WALK ALL AROUND THAT SIDE.

SO THE ENTIRETY IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE CAN PULL UP THE SLIDE, NOT THE WHOLE 15.

WOULD YOU MIND PULLING UP SLIDE 15 PLEASE? NOT THE ENTIRETY, BUT THE WHOLE, UM, FRONT, THE WHOLE EASTERN SIDE OF THIS BUILDING.

I'LL SHOW YOU HERE, SEE BACK, OH YEAH, THIS SECTION HERE.

I THINK IT'S THE P THE PEACH COLORED PART, AND I THINK THE OTHER PART IS LIKE A BLUE OR GREEN.

AND IS THAT JUST TO PROVIDE A SORT OF SEPARATION FOR THE HOTEL GUESTS? YES, AND THAT'S, THAT'S MORE LIKE THE GYM, THE POOL, LIKE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT FACE THAT SIDE.

AND THEN THE RESTAURANT IS, IS THE REST.

THERE WE GO.

SO YEAH, SO THAT WHITE PART IS THE AMENITY, THE HOTEL AMENITY PORTION AND, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, BACK OF HOUSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN THAT, THAT ORANGEISH AND THE BLUE IS PUBLIC.

ARE THERE ANY VICE CHAIR MINORS? YEAH.

UM, CAN YOU SHOW THE SOUTH ELEVATION AGAIN WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE ELEVATION, INCLUDING THE ROOFTOP AND THE PARKING GARAGE? YES.

WHAT SIDE WAS THAT, DO YOU RECALL? DREW, DO YOU KNOW WHICH SIDE? THAT 1 39 PLEASE.

OKAY, SO I THINK, UH, ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS THAT I STILL HAVE THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKING GROUP IS THE PARKING PODIUM'S VISIBILITY.

I, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT THAT'S ADDRESSED.

UNDERNEATH THAT ROOFTOP.

UM, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU INTERPRET THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ROOFTOPS CAN BE SEEN FROM OTHER BUILDINGS.

AND I, I THINK IN THIS CASE, UM, YOU COULD CONSIDER THAT AMENITY SPACE A ROOFTOP.

UM, AND IT DOES MENTION THAT NOT JUST FOR FUNCTIONAL PURPOSES, BUT FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES, UM, TO ENHANCE, UM, THOSE AREAS AS IT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE STREET AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

UM, SO FOR ME, I LOVE THE, UH, INTENT BEHIND THE WRAPPING OF, UH, THE EAST AND NORTHERN FACADES.

UM, I JUST THINK WITH THE PROMINENCE OF THAT SECTION, AND GIVEN THE CONVERSATION TOO ABOUT, UH, POTENTIALLY THE SUPERFLUOUS AMOUNT OF PARKING , UM, I I, IT JUST REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME, UM, ON SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT LOOKS TO BE, UM, SOMEWHAT OF A SCAR, YOU KNOW? SO

[00:45:01]

DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION ON THAT? WE DID, WE DID TALK ABOUT IT ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT.

AND, UM, WHAT WE JUST, THERE'S A, THERE'S A FEW THINGS.

ONE OF THEM IS THE VENTILATION OF THE GARAGE.

UM, WE, AND, AND ALSO JUST THE QUALITY OF THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE, WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THE FULL GLASS FRONT OF THOSE PARKING SPACES ON THE, ON THE STREET FACING PORTION OF THE BUILDING.

UM, WHICH BOTH FROM A COST AND FROM A VENTILATION PERSPECTIVE, UM, MEANS THAT THE BACK OF IT HAS TO BE MUCH MORE OPEN AND, AND LOOK MORE LIKE THIS.

UM, THAT SITE TO THE SOUTH, THERE IS AN OFFICE BUILDING THAT SERVES THE METHODIST CHURCH.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR PLANS, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A CHURCH ITSELF.

IT COULD REDEVELOP, IT DOES HAVE A CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR, BUT THE VIEW CORRIDOR IS QUITE A BIT HIGHER THAN, THAN THE, IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHERE OUR NINTH FLOOR IS.

UM, SO YOU KNOW IT, AND THEN ALSO IT'S RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY LINE THERE.

SO WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE A FIREPROOF, UM, A FIREPROOF WALL OR SIDE THERE.

SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM MY TEAM IS THAT, WELL, IT'S NOT IDEAL IF WE TRIED TO FIX IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THE FRONT LOOK NOT NEARLY AS, UM, APPEALING.

HMM.

SO WITH THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HINDER A PORTION OF YOUR BUILDING THAT WE'RE NOW USING? UH, SORRY, I DIDN'T SAY THAT VERY CLEARLY.

NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT THERE IS A CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR THAT GOES OVER THAT SITE TO THE SOUTH OF US.

UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S HIGHER THAN, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHERE IT IS ON OUR BUILDING.

LIKE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT KIND OF SNIPS OFF THE TOP AT, AT, AT OUR NINE FLOOR AMENITY LEVEL.

SO, UH, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF THAT BUILDING TO THE SOUTH WERE TO REDEVELOP, IT WOULD LIKELY DEVELOP REDEVELOP TALLER THAN IT IS TODAY AND, UM, POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, CO COVER THAT SIDE OF THE GARAGE.

IT'S JUST THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S AN OLDER BUILDING THERE AND IT'S SHORTER.

YEAH, I MEAN IT STANDS OUT TO ME.

UM, BUT UH, OVERALL I LIKE THE DESIGN, SO I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CAROL.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING I HEARD THE GARAGES CAN BE COMPLETELY ENCLOSED AND MECHANICALLY VENTILATED, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE OPEN GARAGES.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S AWARE OF THAT.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? UH, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HOTEL LOBBY AND IT LOOKS LIKE, AND I CAN'T RECALL FROM THE WORKING GROUP, UM, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE, UH, SOMETHING IN THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVATED.

YES.

AS FAR AS THE, THIS LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A CURVED BAR IN THERE.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE CREATED IN THERE IN THAT LOBBY TO ACTIVATE THAT OR ANY PLANS TO ACTIVATE THAT LOBBY SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST A LOBBY? I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT ALSO QUITE A BIT AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OF THE DESIGN, BUT REALLY WHAT WE DID IS JUST TRY TO BETTER REFLECT THE WAY THAT AREA'S GONNA BE USED AND THAT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU COME IN THAT DOOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHERE YOU WOULD CHECK INTO THE HOTEL.

IT'S ALSO WHERE YOU COULD GO TO THE, GO TO THE RESTAURANT INTERIOR.

IT'S ALSO WHERE YOU COULD HOLD A DRINK OR, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO SORT OF BETTER SHOW THE WAY THAT THAT SPACE WOULD BE USED.

UM, AND WE DID, I BELIEVE CHANGE THE SIGN OVER.

WE REMOVE THE WALL, REMOVE THE WALL, THANK YOU.

YES.

BETWEEN THE TWO SO THAT IT REALLY IS AN OPEN MORE OF A, OF AN OPEN SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO USES.

UM, AND YEAH, AND THEN IT'LL BE, WE DID ALSO TALK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE COULD IN THE FUTURE PUT IN LIKE A SMALL, YOU KNOW, COFFEE BAR OR A CART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, IN THAT SPACE, BUT THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PART OF THE RESTAURANT BECAUSE THAT IS GONNA BE ONE KIND OF ONE USER SPACE.

UM, YEAH, I GUESS JUST THINKING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S LIVE MUSIC OR ANY KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THE ENTERTAINMENT OR THE RESTAURANT, UH, INDUSTRY, JUST THINKING OF OTHER USES FOR THAT HOTEL LOBBY THAT WOULD ACTIVATE IT FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GOING TO THE RESTAURANT.

UM, AND, AND THEN, UH, YEAH, I SEEN A LOT OF POINTS MADE ABOUT ACTIVATING THAT OUTDOOR, UM, THE OUTDOOR PLAZA AREA WITH, UH, VARIOUS TYPES OF SEATING.

I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO DO THAT.

UM, BUT OVERALL I, I REALLY LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT, THAT THIS PROJECT'S, UM, GONE AND SO, UM, YEAH, IT LOOKS GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

SORRY TO, TO GIVE MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE REDUCED SIDEWALK WIDTH ALONG LAVACCA.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER HOWARD, I, I'M JUST MORE CURIOUS THAN ANYTHING.

UM, THERE'S A, A REDUCED, UM, SIDEWALK ON LAVACCA, UM, AND IT SAYS PER, UM, ATD AND URBAN DESIGN.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD FILL US IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT CONVERSATION AT WHAT LED TO THE REDUCED SIDEWALK WIDTH.

[00:50:04]

I, I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN EXPANDED OUT BY, UM, SIX FEET, UM, TO THE EAST.

SO THE, THE SIDEWALK IS ACTUALLY GROWING, UM, AND GETTING LARGER.

I GET, UH, REDUC REDUCED FROM THE, THE GREAT STREET STANDARD THOUGH, UH, A 10 FOOT AND THE EIGHT FOOT, UM, STREET FURNITURE ZONE.

IT'S, IT'S 10 FEET.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THE SIDEWALK IS 10 FEET AND I CAN MAYBE WEIGH IN HERE TOO.

I, I KNOW THAT LA VACA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT RECENTLY, BUT THE, THERE'S A, AN AGE OLD AGREEMENT ABOUT LA VACA BEING A TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND THEREFORE WHEN IT CAME TO GREAT STREETS, THAT WAS A VERY, VERY SPECIFIC CONCESSION, WAS THERE ON LA VACA WHEN IT CAME TO THE GREAT STREET'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE FRONTAGES.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT PROPOSED AT 10 FEET AND AN EIGHT AND A HALF FOOT WIDE STREET FURNITURE ZONE AND THE, TO THE CURB AS WE HAVE IT DRAWN CURRENTLY, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE, THE BLOCK TO THE NORTH.

YEAH, I GUESS I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE CIVIL DRAWING AND IT'S GOT NINE AND SEVEN.

HMM.

UM, I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS SINCE THEN AND WE NEED TO UPDATE IT ON, ON THE CIVIL DRAWINGS IN THE UPDATED SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT SUBMITTAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S PRESENTATION.

UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT 14TH AND LAVACCA COMPLIES WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL BE GETTING A RECOMMENDATION FROM US, UH, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU HONOR.

[2. Staff briefing regarding the Downtown Density Bonus Program. Presented by Jorge Rousselin, Planning Department. Sponsors: Chair Salinas, Vice Chair Meiners]