Laserfiche WebLink
STAFF REPORT <br />• CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: September 10, 2018 <br />Application Number: 2018-0904A <br />Property Location: 237 N. Michigan Street <br />Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Renaissance Revival/Chicago School blend/1921/ Nicol, Schuler <br />and Hoffman <br />Property Owner: LaSalle Apartments, LLC <br />Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark (Ordinance #8652-1996) and Multiple Resource National <br />Register <br />Rating: Outstanding <br />DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: The LaSalle Hotel is located on the southwest corner of LaSalle and <br />Michigan Streets; it is a nine storey hotel constructed of stretcher bond laid brick with decorative and plain -cut <br />stone string course. The first and second floors on the east and north facades are treated as one floor. The windows <br />and doorways are flanked by spiral columns and surmounted by round -arched windows with tracery, voussoirs and <br />keystones. A projecting string course separates the second floor from the third floor which has limestone window <br />surrounds, as do the single end bay windows and the ninth floor windows. A projecting string course separates the <br />eighth and ninth floors and the building is surmounted by a wide overhanging cornice. The windows on the first <br />floor are large, fixed sash plates with multi -light side lights. Other windows are double hung sash in pairs. <br />ALTERATIONS: All of the single light double hung windows on all of the facades were vinyl replacement <br />windows from the 1980s -1990s when the Charismatic Renewal Services owned the building. COA 2015-0326B <br />approved repair and repointing of brick and masonry, replacement of existing vinyl replacement windows with new <br />aluminum clad wood replacement windows, replacement of doors and awnings, and restoration of existing wood <br />storefront windows. <br />APPLICATION ITEMS: "Per enclosed drawings requesting approval of window graphics on each window affd <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Applicant seeks a Certificate of Appropriateness for <br />improvements on the structure, including: <br />The application of vinyl window signs for Ancon Construction, the tenant of the corner unit. <br />a. Vinyl appliques four windows of the office at the northeast corner of the building, two on the <br />east face and two on the north face. <br />b. Overall dimensions: approximately 32" x 48" <br />c. Description of sign design: arched "ANCON CONSTRUCTION" text over the company logo <br />and the text, "SINCE 1975", with smaller text stating "100% Employee Owned". All text in <br />gold with black border. <br />The applicant had originally intended to request a corner mounted illuminated sign, but conversations with the staff <br />at the Area Plan Commission resulted in dropping that element from the application. The proposed four window <br />design complies with Area Plan Commission requirements. <br />The Group B Standards and Guidelines state that "only one appropriate identifying sign will be permitted per <br />business." Staff believes this stipulation came about as a reaction to an over -abundance of signage on commercial <br />buildings, specifically hanging or projecting signs. Signage on historic buildings remains contentious — ensuring the <br />• businesses that occupy and bring people to the structure are properly identified in a tasteful and complimentary way <br />is paramount to the long-term preservation of the structure itself. Michael J. Auer wrote the following for the <br />National Park Service in Preservation Brief #25, The Preservation of Historic Signs: <br />The following points should be considered when designing and constructing new signs for historic buildings: <br />