HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-04-25 RecommendationCity of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
April 21, 1995
City Council /.
The Design Review Committee has requested an opportunity to assist the City Council in its
review of the building plans for Carnegie Plaza, the redevelopment project on the old library
parking lot at College and Gilbert streets. This project was previously reviewed and approved by
the City Council about a year ago. Review of the building plans on this site was a condition of
sale of the property in the early 80s.
New Pioneer Cooperative is considering locating in this project and requires a change in the
building design to accommodate sheltered parking at grade level. The parking situation is subject
to review and approval by the Board of Adjustment. Board approval was also given on previous
plans for underground parking; the change involves moving some of the approved parking spaces
from the underground location to grade level. The Board will consider the revised project at their
May 10 meeting.
This property is not an urban renewal parcel nor is it subject to the Design Review Committee's
stated authority. In the past, we have on occasion had projects reviewed by the Committee which
were not legally subject to the Committee's review on a courtesy basis; that is, the developer
agreed to go before the Committee but was not bound by the Committee's advise or opinion.
Usually these projects were in the downtown proper; First National Bank is an example.
Since this is a project that is not within the Design Review Committee's current scope of authority,
I would suggest that if the Council wishes the Committee's offered assistance, the review be a
courtesy review as described above.
cc Laura Hawks
bCS-3KF
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
April 19, 1995
To:
From:
City Council
Laura Hawks, Chair ~
Design Review Committee
Development Project on the Old Public Library Parking Lot Site
At the request of the Design Review Committee, staff presented information regarding the
proposed development project on the old public library parking lot site. The information
included perspective drawings and parking area site plans for both the old plans and the new
proposed plans for the site. The Committee is aware that the City Council approved the
previous plans for the site and that the Council will need to approve the revised plans for the
site. As part of that review process, the Committee requests that the City Council have the
Design Review Committee review the design plans for the proposed development project.
Without a more thorough review of the entire design plan for the site, the Committee has
concerns and reservations regarding the project. Given that the Committee only saw a
perspective drawing of the project from College Street, the Committee is concerned about
how the project will interact with pedestrian activity along Gilbert Street. The Committee is
also concerned with the design of the project in terms of how it handles vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. Based on these few observations, the Committee wishes to extend its
assistance to the City Council as it reviews the revised plans for the site.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at home (338-3867) or at work
(354-1984). Otherwise, a representative of the Design Review Committee will be present at
your April 25, 1995, City Council meeting.