Board approves Ember & Iron project concept but asks for revised hood-screening and trellis details

The Historic Architectural Review Board gave conditional approval July 16 to most of the design modifications proposed for 62 Spanish Street and 59 Hippolyta Street — work tied to a new restaurant operator — while reserving final judgment on how rooftop hoods and courtyard trellises will be screened.

Staff and the applicant outlined a constrained site where parapet walls and a series of small roof planes are being used to hide new mechanical equipment for cooking hoods and air conditioners. The applicant said some exhaust must rise above roof level but that parapets have been added and parapet rooflines extended to reduce visibility. The owner described the challenge succinctly: the building must meet modern restaurant ventilation needs while limiting new metal stands and equipment that “look terrible” on historic cedar‑shingle roofs.

Board members praised the design progress — especially relocating larger equipment to the rear alley and using parapet walls — but required the applicant to return with refined screening for the main hood exhausts (options discussed included a small housing or faux chimney in the style used on similar projects) and clarified that festoon lighting in courtyards remains an unresolved issue and may not be approvable without stronger precedent. The motion approved the overall concept with conditions that keep the front door and fenestration intact, require additional design work on the trellis, and ask the applicant to return with hood‑screening proposals.

The board and applicant agreed to continue collaborative work; staff recommended the applicant bring refined drawings and material samples to the August 20 meeting if final administrative review cannot resolve hood screening and trellis details.