Architectural Review Board approves 17 West Lockwood resubmittal with material and accessibility conditions

The Architectural Review Board on Tuesday approved the resubmittal for 17 West Lockwood Avenue, concluding a public hearing and placing several conditions on the project.

The board’s motion, which passed unanimously, reads that the project may offer clad-wood windows as an alternative to the existing vinyl windows, that the roof replacement be architectural shingles to match the existing, that the replacement skylight be a flat-panel style, that gutters and downspout profiles match the existing profiles, that the front first-floor railing be reinstalled, and that the rear landing be extended and verified for wheelchair clearance relative to column placement. The board also asked that the batten spacing on the rear ramp be equalized.

During deliberations, a board member urged a change from vinyl windows to higher-quality options, saying, “for a building of this caliber, a historic building, I would strongly advise going to something more substantial like, wood with poly clad or metal clad.” The project representative, Zachary Meadow of Rosemond and Associates, responded that the current windows are vinyl and had been replaced previously and said the team would discuss the option with the client; he confirmed the roof work is a replace-and-repair-in-kind scope and agreed the skylight could be a less-visible flat panel.

Board members also noted a first-floor railing had been removed—apparently to access rooftop HVAC—and asked that it be restored. On access concerns, members pressed for the rear door landing to meet clearance requirements and for the ramp top to provide the required wheelchair clearance without interference from column bases; the motion requires the applicant to verify those dimensions in the field.

The motion was made by a board member and seconded by Chair Bob Buckman. The board recorded the motion and approved the project as noted. The applicant was represented at the hearing by the project team and by Sugar Creek Capital, the property owner, which was discussed in relation to long-term material choices.

The approval allows the project to proceed subject to the stated conditions; the record shows the board intends the clad-wood window choice to be an option the applicant may adopt to avoid returning to the board for a minor revision if the owner elects the higher-quality product.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote; next procedural steps for 17 West Lockwood will be standard permitting and permit review by city inspectors to confirm code-related clearances.