HomeMy WebLinkAboutA016 - Letter to Council from RES Development, Inc., dated January 20, 2015 [l L
JAN 10 2015 r .
RES DEVELOPMENT, RES DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF AMES, IOWA
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members, January 20, 2015
This letter is a request to amend the Urban Revitalization Plan for 921 9"' Street. Starting in April of
2013, RES Development, Inc., set off on an ambitious journey to repurpose a vacant but historically
significant school building and produce a high quality urban infill development. As of today, we have
substantially completed the renovation and redevelopment of the old Roosevelt School. The reality of
adaptive reuse is that due to a number of valid reasons, many complex decisions are necessarily decided
verbally in the field by qualified individuals rather than in more traditional meeting room settings with
paper and pen. Below is a list of minor changes that were required to accomplish our goals of seeing
Roosevelt Reimagined:
1. Reduced number of units: Always designed as owner occupied units, we gave residents an
opportunity to customize their living space. The result is that it reconfigured our unit count from
23 to 20 condos.
2. Parking structure size reduction: Given the reduced number of units (see above), and the
"pedestrian orientation" of many of the unit owners (due in part to the Roosevelt's conveniently
close location to downtown, ISU, bus lines and Mary Greely facilities)the number of parking
structure spaces was correspondingly reduced from 31 to 25 which is compliant with city parking
capacity code. In addition to reducing the demand for potentially underused building size and
materials, one direct benefit of the reduction was a resulting increase in usable green space on the
east/park side of the structure.
3. Parking structure windows: As construction of the project evolved it became clear the west
elevation of the parking structure would be the most viewed side by unit owners and the east
elevation the most viewed side by park patrons. Conversely, the north elevation is primarily only
seen by quickly passing automobile traffic with no visual tie-in to the rest of the Roosevelt
building and its design themes. However, simply by moving the windows originally planned for
the north elevation around to the west and east sides, a natural tie in to the west and east facades
of the original Roosevelt school building and its new large windows was created and provided
enhanced architectural continuity.
4. Atrium materials: Balancing design considerations with structural engineering requirements,
sometimes not apparent until construction has begun, often requires significant compromise.
Such was the case with the reduction of glass surface area in the atrium area as the necessary
approach to effectively connecting the new and existing structures together. Use of steel siding,
complimentary in color and design to all connected structures, provided the most viable visual
and engineered solution for this area while still allowing for soaring glass exposure in the atrium.
2519 CHAMBERLAIN ST, STE 101 AMES, IA 50014
Phone:(515)268.5485 Fax:(515)268.8181
5. Landscape plan. Maintaining harmony with the new city park to the east of the Roosevelt while
also forming a subtle, tasteful,'yet clear>boundary between public and private lands was a primary
goal in the mod]fied`landscape plan. This new plan incorporates these minor modifications
L...... .. _. .
without substantially changing_ .
the original plan`"
We appreciate your consideration of approving these changes within the demanding context of adaptively
reusing a historically significant building and look forward to cooperatively working with you in the
future as the project continues to evolve.
Respectively yours,
Dean Jensen
RES Development, Inc.
2519 Chamberlain —Suite 101
Ames, IA 50010