Discussion about Social Security Administration building design continues
A view of the proposed Social Security Administration building from Detroit Ave.
Revisions to the proposal for construction of a new Social Security Administration office building at 17513 Detroit Rd., current site of Lakewood Christian Church, were discussed at the October 8th meeting of the Architectural Board of Review (ABR). (See prior post on the subject).
Project developer John Pavone of Flint, Michigan-based West Second Street Associates and Lakewood-based architect John Waddell of Waddell & Associates have worked over the course of the last couple of months to address some concerns of nearby residents.
The changes include dumpster relocation, fence line modification and the addition of benches. Discussion over how to best alter the plain appearance of the building’s Detroit Rd. exit door is ongoing. The city and the ABR continue to push for an upscale door design. Pavone has said the federal government’s building design requirements limit his flexibility to make such changes. (See .PDF of a rendering of the building from Detroit Ave. See .PDF of a rendering of the building from all directions. See .PDF of a rendering of building’s floor space.)
Detroit Ave. is located at the top of the image. Spring Garden on the left and Roycroft is on the right.
Potential for parking lot ‘nuisance’
Roycroft homeowner Jeff Foye, who lives directly next to the apartment building across the street from the proposed site, wondered how the construction project would affect off-street parking. He noticed construction of the Dunkin’ Donuts on Spring Garden temporarily eliminated several parking spots. He said renters sometimes illegally park in his driveway, and was concerned the situation could worsen when the Social Security project commences. A representative from the Division of Housing and Building said he would work with the Department of Public Works to examine the issue.
West Clifton resident Richard Sicha felt the Social Security Administration building’s 63-spot parking lot should be gated or chained after hours in order to block the inevitable flow of bar patrons and apartment renters looking for convenient parking. Otherwise, “This is just being set-up to become a neighborhood nuisance,” he said. “This is just a mess waiting to happen.”
One resident still not happy
Roycroft homeowner John Graham, who lives directly on the southern project border, had earlier expressed worry that the proposed perimeter fence would inhibit his ability to safely pull out of his driveway. In response, the developer stopped the fence 16-feet short of the right-of-way, and moved it two feet off of the property line. Graham was appreciative of the change, but not entirely satisfied. “I’m just not happy with it,” he said.
Graham was also mildly miffed that the developer didn’t have plans to cut down a nearby tree on property it will acquire — one he never liked — that had belonged to his elderly neighbor. “What, was I going to tell him, ‘I hate your tree.’?” he said.
Odds and ends
AT&T had service capacity issues in the area and has installed an additional jumbo Lightspeed U-Verse box on the property. It will be screened from view with landscaping. The board and the city want some relatively minor changes to the western-facing employee entrance to give it more character. The developer indicated the site’s mature trees will be preserved. In an effort to avoid disturbing tree roots, the dumpster will be kept in a wooden enclosure instead of a concrete container. The board wondered if any nighttime building façade lighting would be used. The developer said it was possibility. The ABR deferred a decision on any Social Security Administration building issues because they didn’t have quorum – one member was absent, and the other recused himself because he is the project’s architect. The next meeting is scheduled for November 12th.
Absence of building permit costs Birdtown property owner
When Rich Bovaro began the process of evicting tenants from the 4-unit building he owns at 2030 Robin, he noticed the structure was in bad shape and needed immediate repair. His subsequent renovation work drew the attention of someone who complained to the building dept. on July 13th. The property was inspected on July 14th and July 17th.
Due to the pending eviction, Bovaro requested an extension. When the city next examined the property on September 17th, it noticed he had pulled apart one of the upstairs bedroom suites (which was once a front porch) without having the proper building permits.
As a result, he was not aware his 4-unit building was grandfathered into an area zoned only for single and two family homes. Once the unit was altered, it lost its exception and needed to return to its original function as a front porch. Bovaro, who operates a realty company based in Aurora, expressed some disbelief at the situation. A city representative suggested the next step would be to bring the issue to the zoning board.
Due to a lack of quorum, the issue was deferred until the next meeting.
Lakewood Phoenix looks to add new signage, remove siding
Julie Hutchinson presented a request to add signage and remove ugly storefront siding (formally known as T1-11) at 15116-18 Detroit. The board was very pleased the siding would be removed. Due to a lack of quorum, however, the issue was deferred until the next meeting.
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