Letter
Dear Mr. Papke:
In its meeting of 21 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the concept design for a new four–story residential building to be located at 3240 Grace Street, NW (case number OG 12-146). The Commission appreciated the straightforward and simple approach to the design of the building and saw merit in both roof options, stepped and gable, within the context of the Georgetown waterfront. The Commission adopted the recommendation of the Old Georgetown Board as follows:
RECOMMENDATION: No objection to general concept design for a four–story plus basement residential building as proposed in stepped flat roof option of supplemental drawings dated 12 June 2012. Recommend a change of plane on the west portion of the south elevation, a raised stone base, elimination of brick piers at metal gate, and development of the service areas and architectural details, including the double–height windows. File new submission of concept design development drawings for review by the Commission.
The Commission looks forward to the Board's review of the design as it is further developed.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Brian Papke
Capital City Real Estate
P.O. Box 96503, #38430
Washington, DC 20090
Enclosure: Report of the Old Georgetown Board, 21 June 2012
Report
OG 12-146 (HPA 12-243)
3240 Grace Street, NW
(Square 1188, Lot 122)
Residential
New building
Concept – revised design
(Reviewed: 7 June, 3 May, 5 Apr., 1 Mar. 2012)
REPORT: The Old Georgetown Board (OGB) has reviewed concept designs for the proposed residential building with four stories plus a raised basement to be located on a vacant lot at the southeast corner at the intersection of Grace Street and Cecil Place, NW. To the east of the site is a mid–1980s four–story mixed–use building; across Grace Street is a historic 19th century warehouse renovated as part of Georgetown Park; across Cecil Place, the Papermill townhouse complex, built in the late 1970s, was designed to recall 19th century mill buildings; and to the south, a series of small three–story townhouses on Cecil Place date from 1890, along a very steep narrow street. Since the second half of the 20th century, the waterfront has been increasingly defined by large industrial buildings than by the single–family residences.
In its previous reviews of the project, the Board recommended the use of an industrial aesthetic and repeatedly recommended against designs with roof decks or projecting balconies.
In its meeting of 7 June, the OGB reviewed two options for the treatment of the top floor: A) a gable roof with dormer and B) a stepped flat roof. The Board recommended a general concept approval for Option B. The Board recommended development of the double–height casement windows with the use of either a thinner spandrel panel or smaller clerestory punched windows. The Board also recommended: a change of plane on the rear facade similar to the one at the front facade, a raised stone base on both Grace Street and Cecil Place elevations, elimination of the brick piers at the metal gate to the rear yard, and development of the service areas.