City officials heard the initial development proposal for a fraternity house remodel and postponed further discussion on a downtown development seeking final approval at an Urban Design Commission meeting Wednesday.
Knothe & Bruce Architects, LLC designed the new Theta Chi fraternity house, which would be located at 210 Langdon St. where the current house would be deconstructed for the new building.
“Currently it is a fraternity house that is in pretty bad disrepair,” said J. Randolph Bruce, managing member of Knothe & Bruce Architects. “The reconstruction would offer fraternity-style living, but with a much more modern lifestyle.”
The commission gave positive feedback on the project, but also offered suggestions for improvement such as changing the front entryway as well as installing a permanent gas grill on the outside terrace.
Additionally, UDC chairperson R. Richard Wagner said adding more landscaping to the back of the house would make a more “pleasing façade.”
An amended proposalwill have to return to the UDC for initial approval before further action can be taken on the project.
UDC members also considered a development at 313 and 315 N. Frances St., seeking final approval. The 12-story apartment building, also designed by Bruce, would have commercial space on the first floor.
After hearing feedback from UDC members, Bruce added more windows to the design and made aesthetic changes to the roof design.
Although the committee offered positive feedback on the design changes it could not grant final approval due to a technicality, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
“There is an ordinance that regulates the design of new construction in this part of downtown and [the UDC] could not technically approve the project because they needed to show the proper information,” Verveer said.
Verveer also said he is concerned with services such as recycling options and closet space within the units as well as insufficient moped spaces due to the small size of the building’s lot.
The project will have to come before the UDC again Dec. 5, the Plan Commission Dec. 17, and the City Council meeting in January before the project can begin, according to Verveer.
