Denison Proposes New Cleveland Hall Design
On Monday, July 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm, the Planning Commission will consider a new proposal by Denison University for exterior work on Cleveland Hall that includes three additions. Denison is currently appealing a Common Pleas Court decision that found that an earlier modernist design for the additions was not within the guidelines of Granville's Planning and Zoning Code. Cleveland Hall is within the Architectural Review Overlay District.
The new design incorporates a brick facade on the three additions. The additions sit on cut limestone bases matching the main building. The symmetry of the additions matches the original building, but the additions are clearly separated from the original structure, thus preserving the historic integrity of the original building.
During New Business, the Planning Commission will consider the Cleveland Hall application:
Application #08-81: Submitted by Art Chonko, Denison University for the property located at 210 West College Street, Cleveland Hall. The request is for architectural review and approval of exterior modifications to existing Cleveland Hall, as follows:
1) Replacement of true divided lite wood windows with aluminum windows;2) Replacement of wood and aluminum doors with aluminum doors;
3) Removal of two sets of windows on the first floor level, of the southern elevation, and replacement with brick inserts;
4) Removal of a set of double doors and sidelights on the first floor level, of the southern elevation, and replacement with brick inserts;
5) Installation of ten (10) skylights on top of pitched roof of the main building;
6) Installation of four (4) roof hatches on top of pitched roof of the main building, adjacent to the skylights;
7) Replacement of existing brick and metal porch rails on the first and second floor levels of the southern elevation with new metal railing; and
Three (3) additions to existing Cleveland Hall, as follows:
1) Two-story addition attached to the western core building on the north side;2) Two-story addition attached to the eastern stone portion of the building; and
3) Two-story addition on top of the eastern stone portion of the building.
The property on West College Street is zoned Village Institutional District (VID) and is located within the Architectural Review Overlay District (AROD).
The previous Cleveland Hall design included a modernist, all glass cube on the east side of the building. At a public hearing a number of citizens said the design was not appropriate for the historic district. Judge Jon Spahr ruled that the design violated Village law and reversed the decisions of the Planning Commission and Village Council that had approved the plan.
The new design is much closer to what the citizens group had proposed to Denison and architect Jack Beyer during their meeting May 7, 2007.
At that time, the citizens group hoped to reach a compromise before the Village Council held an appeal hearing on the Planning Commission decision.
No such agreement was reached, the Council appeal hearing was held, and Council, on a 3 to 2 vote, upheld the decision of the Planning Commission. The citizens group appealed the Council and Planning Commission decisions to the Court of Common Pleas. The case was heard by Judge Jon Spahr who reversed the Village's decisions.
Denison appealed Judge Spahr's decision.
According the the Newark Advocate:
"The university will ask the Granville Planning Commission on Monday to consider a backup set of architectural plans it would implement if it loses a court appeal aimed at trying to preserve its original proposal, according to Seth Patton, the university's vice president for finance and management."The backup plan gives the university an option if its court challenge is unsuccessful or goes on too long, said the university's director of facilities, Art Chonko. 'It's prudent to have a (backup) plan if the other one fails,' he said."
It's unclear if Denison now will withdraw its appeal currently before the Fifth District Court of Appeals where both parties have submitted briefs. An oral hearing on the appeal has not been scheduled and will probably be several months away.
Click the images below to view a larger version of each drawing:
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Click here to view the complete agenda for the Planning Commission meeting.
See previous stories on the Cleveland Hall Issue:
Is Denison giving up on the Flash Cube?
So, what are they doing? Is this a serious plan?
I'm in favor of granting Denison this new plan. It isn't perfect, but it is something, I at least, could support.
But, only if they give up on the flash cube.
And, maybe they should pay the legal costs of the citizens who, on their own, protected our historic district.
Or, is this only a ploy to allow Denison to resume construction and "beat" the legal objections to the flash cube?
If that's the case, then shame on them and I hope the Planning Commission has the gumption to find out and to make them choose one plan or the other and live with the consequences.
New plan for Cleveland Hall additions looks good
While I have not yet seen the full plans for the revised Cleveland Hall additions, the drawings available on The Granville Press look very good.
Thanks should go to Denison for their willingness to develop a new plan which is so much more in keeping with the requirements and goals of the architectural district.
Bill Wernet