I recently reviewed the architectural documents in the Development in Downtown Parking Lots website. There were some interesting and appealing renderings of development ideas. I then refreshed my memory of the slides used in the November 19th, 2024 presentation. As I remembered, no renderings are used there.
I think it is important to emphasize how the downtown development will IMPROVE the downtown and some architectural drawings will help. The renderings would have to include disclaimers, of course, but they will help the audience visualize the development in positive ways.
Using renderings would also bring a spotlight on the topic of height of the buildings.
I noticed that all the architectural renderings were of 4 stories, with some hinting at a possible additional, 5th, story, while the proposal from staff mentions "using bonus density level", which the staff report explains is 6-7 stories.
By including renderings the possible disconnect between 4/5 stories vs 6/7 stories is brought to the surface. Either there are compelling renderings with 6-7 stories, or the 4/5 renderings have to be accompanied by an explicit disclaimer. One could argue that including renderings is "asking for trouble", but I believe that the height of the developments is a key issue, one that it will surface in all discussions, and one that it is best to confront up front. Indeed, the height of the development was a topic of some of the public comments in the Nov 16th city council meetings, and it has been a frequent topic in Nextdoor threads.
I want to end by indicating that while I am strongly in support of the downtown housing development, I do not know if I would support a development at the "bonus density level". I cannot imagine how buildings of that height would fit in the downtown area. Some renderings would help but I have not seen any of that height.
Thanks for reading so far,
Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart, The Willows.
