Federal Approval: Sort of

Phase II of the Department of Interiors assessment of my building plans came back today. Obviously, getting it back is a HUGE amount of good news. We now know something. However, it was not necessarily good news. Here are a couple of areas we need to address (paraphrased):

1. Replacement Storefront: must be compatible with the appearance, size, design, proportions and profiles of a traditional historic storefront........Photos of completed work must be submitted.
2. Replacement windows must match the appearance, size, design, proportions and profiles of the existing. Comparable detailed drawings of existing and proposed must be submitted and approved by SHPO and National Park Services before proceeding.
3. Proposed rooftop addition must not significantly impact the historic roofline of the building. Construction of a mock-up and photographs of mock-up from "each surrounding right-of-way and keyed to the historic district map must be reviewed and approved".
4. Retaining historic plaster walls in a deteriorated condition does not meet the Standards and must be repaired. Photographs of the completed work must be submitted.
5. The proposed two-story space within the upper level apartment must be reduced in size. A preferable alternative was proposed. New plans must be submitted.
6. New mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems must be installed in a manner consistent with the historic character of the building. Ductwork must be set back from storefront and painted. Photographs of completed work must be submitted.

If you can read between the lines and know me well, then you'll know some of this is disappointing to me. However, you'll also know that my optimism will change my outlook in about a minute. (tick, tock, tick, tock)

There, that is better. What is all the fuss about?

State Historic Approval??

Today I received the Review and Recommendations from the State Historic Preservation Office. The document has "United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service" in the letterhead. Let's see....the Internal Revenue Service.....I've just doubled the number of US Government Agencies I am in contact with. Well, those are 2 that I know of.

My review "meets the Standards only if the attached conditions are met". The conditions are not that rigorous or disappointing:

1. plaster will need to be added to the walls where it has deteriorated...with allowance for "some" existing exposed masonry
   
2. the storefront must have clear glazing on the windows (no tint)
   
3. the storefront aluminum must be baked enamel to replicate the appearance of painted wood
4. mechanicals and duct-work can not result in lowering of the ceiling heights, impact the character of the building or be visible from the exterior. Ductwork needs to be set back from the storefront, needs be adjacent to walls and must be painted to match the ceiling color

OK. Not so bad. But, who doesn't like the character of aluminum colored ductwork? Paint it, really??!! This we might review.

Now, I found that this isn't really approval. The Federal government will review this State recommendation and can either rubber stamp their approval (which also would mean State approval), or they will add their requirements including potential areas the State didn't highlight.

Never-the-less.....After too many weeks I've seen progress in the approval. It should be any day now that the build can commence.

Oh, and the tournament begins on Thursday. Thursday and Friday should be a holidays.