HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated February 23, 1993 ITEM #: 30 Qi
DATE: 02/23/93
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT:
Passage of Ordinance on First Reading to Create Design Criteria for the
1915 City Hall/Public Safety Building.
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: This is a proposal to adopt design criteria for
the 1915 City Hall, as developed by a special committee.
The design criteria will be used in the future by the Historic
Preservation Commission to evaluate exterior changes to this local
historic landmark.
The Historic Preservation Commission and staff recommend approval of the
design criteria for the Public Safety Building.
BACKGROUND:
On December 8, 1992, the City Council amended the official zoning map of
the City of Ames by designating the 1915 City Hall at 420 Kellogg Avenue
as a local historic landmark.
Design guidelines which apply to structures in local historic districts will
also apply to this local historic landmark.
Design criteria for the architectural style of the 1915 City Hall, which is
Classical Revival, must be adopted by the City Council as criteria for use
by the Historic Preservation Commission in evaluating exterior changes of
the building.
A committee of four people, including two Historic Preservation Commission
members, have drafted a set of design criteria for consideration by the
City Council.
ANALYSIS:
Design criteria for the Classical Revival style of architecture for the 1915
City Hall, as developed by the Committee, and reviewed by the Historic
Preservation Commission are listed as follows:
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CLASSICAL REVIVAL DESIGN CRITERIA
(1915 City Hall Landmark)
Note: Details of design and dimensions of individual architectural elements
of the building should be followed for alterations and new construction, as
shown on the building plans prepared by the architectural firm of Liebbe,
Nourse, and Rasmussen. These building plans are on file in the City of
Ames Department of Planning and Housing.
In some instances, substitute materials may be acceptable if they are
consistent with the historic materials in size, design and texture.
Building Height: Two (2) stories, not including the basement
Roof Type: Nominally flat roof
Roof Pitch: Not applicable
Dormers: None
Entry: Front facade -
Centered on the front facade
Limestone frame and cornice with dentils
Recessed doors
Double doors 7'-6" tall
Doors with glass - 20" x 64" glass size
Transom with wood grill above double doors
Limestone stairs and stoop with matching
limestone buttresses on each side of the
entry
Treads of variable widths
North Side Basement -
Single panel wood door with a single light
Side light
Transom above door
Iron railing for this entrance
Fire Station Doors (North Side) -
Two pairs of hinged, bifold, wood, three-panel
doors or similar architectural feature
Center row of door panels are glazed
Six-light arched transom in each of two arched
openings
Fire Station Doors (South Side) -
Sliding wood door or similar architectural
feature
Three-light (42" x 26") windows over four
vertical wood panels
Six-light rectangular transom above the door
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Fire Station Second Story Door (South Side) -
. An architectural feature similar to a six-light,
single-panel, wood passage door
Siding: City Hall Portion of the Building -
Brick walls above a limestone basement
Limestone cornice
Square limestone ornaments between second
story windows
. All windows recessed in two-story brick panels
Recessed spandrel panels between first and
second-story windows on the City Hall portion
of the building
Mitered brick window frames on the City Hall
portion of the building
Fire Station Portion of the Building -
Keystone and impost blocks on the north fire
fire station door arches
Common bond brick without decorative detail
No limestone cornice on the south and east
sides
Windows: City Hall Portion of the Building -
Wood single or double casement windows
with transoms above
Retention of existing iron grates is preferred
Fire Station Portion of the Building -
Hollow metal double-hung windows with a
divided light sash
Retention of existing iron grates is preferred
Basement -
Wood double-hung windows on the City Hall
portion of the building
Hollow metal double-hung windows on the fire
station portion of the building
Roof Features: City Hall Portion of the Building -
. Stepped parapet with a limestone cap
Fire Station Portion of the Building -
Level parapet with a limestone cap on the north
side
Level parapet with a terra cotta cap on the
south and east sides
Chimney with a limestone cap
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Solid/Void Ratio: Maintain the solid/void ratio established by the
existing building
Plan/Footprints: Simple rectangular plan, with a slight offset on the
fire station portion of the building
Window Wells: Gray brick areaways with cement coping
STAFF COMMENTS:
Design criteria prepared by the committee and described in this report
apply only to the 1915 Ames City Hall. Several architectural features of
the building, including but not limited to, windows and doors of the
building have been altered to a great extent since the original construction
of the building. These alterations have no historical significance. There-
fore, all alterations and new construction on the exterior of the building
should follow the original building plans prepared by Liebbe, Nourse, and
Rasmussen to be consistent with the architectural style.
The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed these criteria at their
meeting of January 11, 1993. As part of this review, the Historic Preser-
vation Commission decided to change the format of the design criteria to
include a general statement that allows for substitute materials where these
materials are consistent with the design of the structure. The special
committee that worked on the creation of the design criteria basically
included the same flexibility for substituting materials, but repeated this
item for many of the architectural criteria. The Historic Preservation
Commission felt it would be more workable if this provision for substitute
materials was stated only once as a general provision for all architectural
features. The specific language that is recommended by the Historic
Preservation Commission, which is already in the proposed criteria, reads
as follows:
In some instances, substitute materials may be acceptable if they are
consistent with the historic materials in size, design and texture.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve of the Classical Revival Design Criteria
for the 1915 Ames City Hall, as proposed.
2. The City Council can deny approval of the Classical Revival Design
Criteria for the 1915 Ames City Hall, as proposed.
3. The City Council can approve of the Classical Revival Design Criteria
with modifications.
4. The City Council can refer this item back to City staff for additional
information.
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MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative #1. This will approve of the Classical Revival Design Criteria
for the 1915 Ames City Hall. These criteria will be used by the Historic
Preservation Commission when they review possible alterations to exterior
architectural features that may result from the redevelopment of the Public
Safety Building.
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