Board approves gooseneck lights, wrestles with paint and awnings at 326 S. Braddock

Shelby Bay Hoffman, the applicant for 326 South Braddock Street, told the Board of Architectural Review she plans a café/bookshop nonprofit and requested three gooseneck lights, three fixed awnings and storefront paint to restore and reuse a vacant storefront.

"I've lived here since '92...I've built out on the inside of the store space," Hoffman said, explaining the awnings and interior displays are critical to her plan for the space. Hoffman said the building owner provided written permission and that the awning manufacturer will supply a wind-rating test in two to three weeks.

Board staff and preservation consultants raised detailed preservation concerns about painting structural Vitrolite glass and about wind and code suitability for fixed awnings. Staff noted Vitrolite is a rare structural glass and that paint can obscure damage and complicate future repairs. Several members said the gooseneck lights were routine and posed no issue; the board debated whether to approve paint given the material's historic status but ultimately moved to approve the application, citing the existing damage to the Vitrolite and the tenant's owner permission while asking staff to note precedent in the motion language.

Board members said that if the awnings cannot meet building-code clearance or wind ratings, those elements may be handled by building permits independent of the board's certificate action. The board approved the motions by voice vote with no recorded individual roll call.