Cornerstone Church explores adding 350‑seat sanctuary behind Corn House; DRC urges reduced visible mass and subterranean options

Architects working for Cornerstone Church presented early‑stage ideas to acquire the Corn House and construct a new ~350‑seat sanctuary behind the contributing Victorian residence. Staff told the DRC the package, as drawn, exceeds guideline recommendations—projected additions amount to roughly 102% of the historic footprint and the lot coverage was estimated at about 38% (the guideline recommends lower thresholds).

Commissioners emphasized context and visual impact: they said the new sanctuary should not dominate the Corn House or the adjacent church tower and encouraged creative treatments—burying part of the sanctuary below grade to lower perceived mass, using carriage‑house scale compositions and courtyard/landscaping buffers, and simplifying stylistic gestures so new work reads as subsidiary. Commissioner Mary suggested that part‑subterranean solutions and careful landscape design between the two properties would help achieve the congregation’s seating goals while preserving public views of the historic house.

Staff asked the applicant to document the age of the existing additions so the DRC can determine whether those elements count toward the historic footprint. The committee also recommended presenting 3‑D renderings that show public vantage points, a simplified material palette that ties old and new without mimicking, and a site plan that clarifies parking and pedestrian circulation.

Next steps: Applicant to provide refined massing options (including partially below‑grade alternatives), documentation on the age of existing additions, and visual studies illustrating public views and proposed landscaping.