The infill project at the old “Eats” site on 8th site returns to HARC on Thursday, December 14. The applicant has made some changes to the elevations to meet city requirements (see pictures below). However, the project still presents a significant change in the landscape of Old Town.
The size and scale of the building is out of context with its surroundings and inappropriate to the setting. Also it’s higher than the 40 ft height limit. How many exceptions will this project need to ask for?
Staff is recommending APPROVAL for the revised project. Here is the Cover Sheet for the hearing. The all-important Staff Report is reproduced below.
Please attend the HARC meeting on Thursday (6 pm in Council Chambers at 7th & Main), and, in advance, write to the Planning office and state your opinion.
Nat Waggoner, Long Range Planning manager, Nathaniel.Waggoner@georgetown.org
Sofia Nelson, Planning director, Sofia.Nelson@georgetown.org
Karen Frost, Admin assistant, Karen.Frost@georgetown.org
[gview file=”http://www.alliancegeorgetown.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Exhibit_3–_Staff_Report.pdf”]
This is such a massive building. It does not fit with the surrounding area on 8th street. As a former member of HARC, several years ago. I do not see how this fits in Downtown overlay or the City’s design guidelines.
Against such structure of this size anywhere near the Square. Design not appropriate for surrounding area, nor the Square in general. Ugly box style apartment looking building. Cold and hard for such a lovely setting, brings nothing appealing to the Square. Look at the square in Belton. Very nice, except for the eyesore of jail and government offices on the western side–very short-sighted. These apartments will bring the same to our Square!
My comments can be used in any way to help stop this development in its current form.
(Sent earlier today)
To: mayor@georgetown.org,
David.Morgan@georgetown.org,
Nathaniel.Waggoner@georgetown.org,
Sofia.Nelson@georgetown.org,
Karen.Frost@georgetown.org
As a resident of old Georgetown, I am writing today to express my extreme opposition to the proposed multi-unit complex under consideration for this space. The ugly abomination of architecture currently being proposed will have a significant and negative impact on the charm and appeal of the town’s #1 tourist attraction, and a design like that has no place in old Georgetown – period.
I am asking you, as representatives for the residents of Georgetown, to reject this design on the basis of it not being architecturally sympathetic to its surroundings.
I am not opposed to seeing this parcel being developed into multi-unit residences, but I *do* have an issue with the current modern design. Any new buildings inside of old Georgetown (especially the tourist-driven downtown area) should blend in with their surroundings, and not stand out like the ugly sore that the current design proposes. Send them back to the drawing board, and have them return with a design that better integrates with the surrounding area (heck, even the Brownstones over on Rivery look more ‘period-appropriate’ than this yuppie beehive of a design.)
A response is appreciated, but actions are more important. Please reject this current design.
We moved to Georgetown for it’s architectural charm, history, and like minded friends. We also went through very strict guidelines to add a garage to our residential property. We were not allowed to add height, and we were held to strict design qualities to match our Craftsmsn style building. . HARC was quite strict about maintaining the “Historic Value” of the new structure. Now, sadly, we are looking at an Iron Curtain style building which would fit in nicely along Burnet or N Lamar where the spirit of the area has already been squelched. It would seem that HARC and the city would want to replace the lovely Victorian with a structure of like kind in order to truly maintain the value of the Historic overlay. The proposed building takes away from the charm of Georgetown as it awkwardly dwarfs the surrounding historic buildings.
Tell Georgetown Council to Vote No to the current building proposal at 8th and Church. (the former Eats on 8th location)
On December 14th, 2017 Georgetown residents attended the December Heritage and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) meeting to strongly voice their opposition to the proposed 4-storey, 44-foot+ mixed used building being proposed for the location. Arguments against the current design included the excessive height, lack of sufficient parking accommodations, and the fact that the lot in question is supposed to be for a “transitional” building between commercial and the residential community it abuts. HARC listened, not only to the facts being presented, but to the will of the community, and rejected the application as presented.
Now it appears that the developer is contemplating approaching Counsel for an exemption, and requesting they override the decision of the HARC in favor of the developer.
I just signed the petition: “Tell Georgetown Counsel to Vote No to the current building proposal at 8th and Church” Will you join us in supporting this issue?
By signing this petition, you are adding your voice to the growing number of Georgetown citizens who are demanding that our elected officials say NO to the current proposal and design, to support the judgement of the HARC and your neighbors and fellow Georgetown residents who all oppose this project, and to instruct our elected officials to not grant an exemption.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/738/750/443/tell-georgetown-counsel-to-vote-no-to-the-current-building-proposal-at-8th-and-main./
I do not want to see Georgetown become East Austin. Mr Visser has already done it once to us. I would be very much against him doing it again. We stopped Mr McIntosh. We can stop him.