HPC Moves Talks on Cretella Plans to April

The city's most prolific developer had four applications before the Historic Preservation Commission Tuesday, but glitches caused all to be postponed until April.

All four matters involved exterior changes to buildings in the North Avenue Historic District, meaning the developer had to seek a "certificate of appropriateness" for each, in accordance with preservation guidelines. While each had a different corporate name, all the proposals involved Frank Cretella's company, Landmark Developers.

"Next Step to Collins Avenue LLC," also known as the Courier News building at 226-232 Park Avenue, has been renovated to house eight apartments and a restaurant is planned for the street level. The application Tuesday was for canvas awnings, but the discussion bogged down over seeming discrepancies between the drawing on architect Jose Carballo's easel and copies in the hands of the commissioners. When Landmark associate Gabe Bailer mentioned the firm would be seeking a 20 percent federal tax credit for the project, which he called "a beautiful, beautiful enhancement," city Preservationist Gail Hunton deemed it all more important that the drawings be precise. The matter was first put off until the March meeting, then later to the April 23 meeting.

Bailer began the next presentation, for 134-36 North Avenue LLC, by apologizing for the fact that vinyl windows had already been installed. Told vinyl was unacceptable, the manager for Cretella's Black Dog construction firm proposed painting the window frames to look like wood, but Commissioner Jim Galvin said, "We want wood windows, period." Manager Fernando Fernandez called it "an honest mistake," but commissioners were incredulous that the applicants were unaware of the city's Historic Preservation Design Guidelines.

Among other concerns, commissioners wanted to make sure the proper type of mortar would be used to re-point the brick facade and that storefronts would not look overly modern. Bailer noted tax credits would be sought for the project and effusively repeated, "It's an exciting time" for North Avenue. Again, commissioners called for more information and a solution to the problem of vinyl windows.

The third application got off to a bumpy start when Bailer produced revised plans for 177-185 North Avenue LLC, exchanging them for what the commissioners had in their packets. The developer had not yet decided whether there would be two or three storefronts and when commissioners asked how people would get upstairs, Fernandez said, "That's what's missing," and promised another set of drawings. With questions outstanding, that application was also carried to`April 23.

The last application dated back to 2009, when Cretella suggested the PNC Bank might become a Trader Joe's. Although the drawings still indicated the possibility, Carballo said, "Those conversations have gone by the wayside."

The application Tuesday, for The Bank on Park LLC, had to do with a proposed new "lounge space" on top of the bank building. It would be made of clear glass and metal and would be a place to go "pre-function or after-function, to go have a drink and enjoy the views," Carballo said.

Carballo said the developer wanted water on the roof in the form of a shallow pool, four to six inches deep, but commissioners had reservations about it. Commissioner Bill Michelson predicted it would attract mosquitoes. Hunton suggested the possibility of a "green roof" with living plants instead, noting architect Frank Gehry was creating such a roof for the new Facebook building.

"It would be better than water," Hunton said.

Commission Chairwoman Sandy Gurshman asked for more detail on the rooftop structure and Hunton asked to see drawings "that are farther along," leading to another postponement until the April meeting.

The roof addition drew praise from residents Gerry Heydt and April Stefel, and Michelson said, "This is the biggest opportunity we have ever had."

Cretella's projects numbered seven in 2010 and now there are 11 working their way through the land use boards or awaiting construction. The largest proposal is a 148-unit apartment complex on West Second Street.

--Bernice