(Aug. 18, 2016) As expected, a new mixed-use building on Gay Street in Berlin breezed through final approval in separate meetings before the Historic District Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission last Wednesday.
Patrick Vorsteg, who owns the lot and wants to develop into it storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead, had been listening carefully to both commissions during previous meetings. Each time either panel made a suggestion, he made changes and came back.
As an example, a week earlier, Mary Moore from the Historic District Commission asked Vorsteg to add a few windows and shutters, to give the building more “character” and to make it more appealing to more upscale renters. Vorsteg complied, bringing updated plans with two more windows on each side of the structure, which would become 15 Gay Street.
“The reason we came back was our concern about the blank walls on the side of the building,” Moore said. “I think, certainly this is a big, huge improvement.”
Vorsteg also brought in samples of the reddish brick he planned to use, which the commission asked to see, along with siding examples and a piece of the blue metal awnings.
He said Anderson 400 series windows would be used, and that a commercial-grade aluminum double door would be used for the storefronts.
“We all care so much about Berlin, and I appreciated the way you accepted out first thoughts when you came in to that. Hopefully, since it’s going to have your name on it and be your building, you’ll be proud of it,” Moore said. “I have a very good feeling that that’s going to be true.”
The Historic District Commission voted 3-0 to approve construction.
A few minutes later, members of the Planning and Zoning Commission came into Town Hall to consider site plan approval. That vote was also unanimous, 4-0.
The only suggested change came from Pete Cosby, who asked about the possibility of putting in recessed doors for the storefront, similar to other downtown shops.
Vorsteg, again, seemed amenable.
“[That is] certainly something I would consider,” he said. “I’m certainly open for ideas.”
“It’s going to look so commercial and modern and flat without being offset in,” Cosby said. “It’s just a little thing that would add so much to the building.”
Beyond that, Cosby added, “I like what you’re doing.”
“I would simply make the humble request that you consider our comments about threshold and inset doors to some extent,” Cosby said. “We can’t make you do any of that. I’m just asking you to [consider it].
“I’m not an architect, I’m just a person who has weird ideas,” Cosby added. “I’d like to see consistency downtown.”
Because that change was considered to be relatively minor Planning Director Dave Engelhart said, if Vorsteg did alter the plans, the Historic Commission would likely poll its members rather than hold another public meeting. The Planning Commission would not have to approve the plans again.
Reached for comment last Thursday, Vorsteg said the next hurdle was to address stormwater management, although he believes he has “adequate space for that” on the property.
He hopes to break ground on the building this winter.
Patrick Vorsteg, who owns the lot and wants to develop into it storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead, had been listening carefully to both commissions during previous meetings. Each time either panel made a suggestion, he made changes and came back.
As an example, a week earlier, Mary Moore from the Historic District Commission asked Vorsteg to add a few windows and shutters, to give the building more “character” and to make it more appealing to more upscale renters. Vorsteg complied, bringing updated plans with two more windows on each side of the structure, which would become 15 Gay Street.
“The reason we came back was our concern about the blank walls on the side of the building,” Moore said. “I think, certainly this is a big, huge improvement.”
Vorsteg also brought in samples of the reddish brick he planned to use, which the commission asked to see, along with siding examples and a piece of the blue metal awnings.
He said Anderson 400 series windows would be used, and that a commercial-grade aluminum double door would be used for the storefronts.
“We all care so much about Berlin, and I appreciated the way you accepted out first thoughts when you came in to that. Hopefully, since it’s going to have your name on it and be your building, you’ll be proud of it,” Moore said. “I have a very good feeling that that’s going to be true.”
The Historic District Commission voted 3-0 to approve construction.
A few minutes later, members of the Planning and Zoning Commission came into Town Hall to consider site plan approval. That vote was also unanimous, 4-0.
The only suggested change came from Pete Cosby, who asked about the possibility of putting in recessed doors for the storefront, similar to other downtown shops.
Vorsteg, again, seemed amenable.
“[That is] certainly something I would consider,” he said. “I’m certainly open for ideas.”
“It’s going to look so commercial and modern and flat without being offset in,” Cosby said. “It’s just a little thing that would add so much to the building.”
Beyond that, Cosby added, “I like what you’re doing.”
“I would simply make the humble request that you consider our comments about threshold and inset doors to some extent,” Cosby said. “We can’t make you do any of that. I’m just asking you to [consider it].
“I’m not an architect, I’m just a person who has weird ideas,” Cosby added. “I’d like to see consistency downtown.”
Because that change was considered to be relatively minor Planning Director Dave Engelhart said, if Vorsteg did alter the plans, the Historic Commission would likely poll its members rather than hold another public meeting. The Planning Commission would not have to approve the plans again.
Reached for comment last Thursday, Vorsteg said the next hurdle was to address stormwater management, although he believes he has “adequate space for that” on the property.
He hopes to break ground on the building this winter.