historic resources board - city of palo alto

3 Historic Resources Board

Staff Report

Date: November 17, 2010

To: Historic Resources Board

From: Julie Caporgno Department: Planning and Community Environment

Subject:

Chief Planning and Transportation Official

405 Lincoln Avenue [07PLN-00189]: Request by Michelle Arden and Allen Akin for Historic Resources Board review of plans for a new single family two-story home located in the Professorville Historic District for co,npatibility with the district. An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for the project and certified by the City Council on October 25,2010. The project site is located in the R-l (10,000) zone district. The project is subject to the City's discretionary Individual Review process.

RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Historic Resources Board evaluate the compatibility of the proposed new structure for 405 Lincoln Avenue with the Professorville Historic District focusing review on the following four components of the mitigation measure identified in the EIR for the project (See Attachment A):

• Increased articulation of forms; • Greater use of traditional elements; • Use of warmer co lor palette; and • Further simplification of residential building eave lines.

BACKGROUND On June 14, 2007, the owners/applicants of the single family residence at 405 Lincoln Avenue applied for HRB review of a Demolition Delay request to enable demolition of the existing house, a Spanish Colonial Revival constry,tcted circa 1923 and listed as a contributing resource to the Professorville National Register Historic District on the City's Historic Inventory. Shortly after submission of the application for Demolition Delay in June, the City Attorney determined b~ed upon a trial court ruling in a City of Palo Alto lawsuit that the demolition delay process was subj ect to the California Environmental Quality Act. The City decided to prepare an

345 Lincoln A venue in the Professorville Historic District of 4

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project since, absent mitigation, demolition of the building had the potential for resulting in a direct adverse impact on the Professorville Historic District. The historic consultant selected by the City to evaluate the compatibility of the replacement structure on the Professorville Historic District prepared a set of compatibility guidelines based on the Secretary's Standards for Rehabilitation that were provided to the applicant to guide the design of the replacement structure. The plans for the new house were modified several times by the applicants over a year and a half period as a result of a series of meetings between the City and the applicants to ensure that the new structure complied with those guidelines.

In August, 2009, the applicants submitted final plans for the replacement residence to be analyzed in the project EIR for compatibility with the Professorville Historic District. The DEIR for the project circulated from July 27, 2010 to September 17, 2010. The DEIR concluded that the replacement structure could be incompatible with the district unless the design was modified to be more reflective of the Spanish Eclectic style and more compatible with the historic district. The DEIR also recommended various ways. to ensure that the replacement structure was compatible with the district; the applicants revised their plans to incorporate all but two of the recomnlendations. On September 1, 20 1 0, the HRB held a public hearing to take testimony on the adequacy of the DEIR during its circulation.

On October 6, 2010, the HRB held its second hearing on the project focusing on the length of the Demolition Delay requirement and the evaluation of the replacement structure and its compatibility with the Professorville Historic District. At that meeting, the board recommended to the City Council that the DEIR was adequate. The board also recommended to the City Council that the environmentally superi()r alternative described in the DEIR should be pursued which retained the existing structure and allowed for expansion of the existing historic house on the site rather than its demolition. As a result, the board elected not to discuss the proposed replacement structure as revised by the applicants, its compatibility with the historic district or its compliance with the DEIR mitigation measures at that nleeting.

On October 25, 2010 the City Council certified the EIR for the project and directed staff to refer the review of the replacement structure to the HRB within 30 days of submittal of plans by the applicant for Individual Review. The board was asked by the Council to provide a recommendation to the Director of Planning and Community Environment regarding the compatibility of the new house with the Professorville Historic District before any action on the Individual Review was taken by the director. The Council acknowledged that input on the design of the new house from the board was required by the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, but also recognized that the board review should be focused on the EIR mitigation developed to ensure that the replacement structure would be compatible with the Professorville Historic District.

DISCUSSION The Novernber 17, 2010, HRB meeting should focus on the compatibility of the proposed replacement structure at 405 Lincoln Avenue with the Professorville Historic District. Specifically the board is being asked to evaluate the proposed project's compliance with the four


part mitigation measure in the EIR required for the proj ect to be considered compatible with the district. Although the board is not restricted in its discussion of the project or in its reconlmendations, by certifying the EIR, the Council has detemlined that the new structure is conlpatible with the historic district if the proposed mitigation is adequately incorporated within the project. Therefore, the applicant cannot be required to modify its project beyond the scope of the EIR mitigation; and staff is recommending the board focus its efforts on that mitigation.

Although the EIR evaluated the proposed new building against the ten Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, the historic consultant as well as staff considers Standard 9 is the most relevant standard for new buildings proposed for construction in National Register Districts. It reads in part, "The new work shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment." Standard 9 also requires design differentiation so that "a false sense of historical development" will be avoided as mandated by Secretary's Standard 3. In order to meet Standard 3, new cop.struction in National Register Districts should not replicate surrounding historic buildings because this would produce examples of false history. The central objective of all ten Secretary's Standards is stated in Standard 2: "The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved."

The EIR identified several compliance issues that remained and needed to be further addressed in order for the project to be compatible with the surrounding Professorville Historic District. The EIR concluded that the color and materials palette, building eave lines, fenestration and massing characteristics, wood trellis and shading elements were not sufficiently reflective of the Spanish Eclectic style and not sufficiently compatible with the district. The impacts and mitigations section from the DEIR are attached that fully describe these incompatible features of the house and how to mitigate them (see Attachment B).

The EIR identified four general measures that would mitigate the impact: • Increased articulation of fonns to provide a more organized elevation composition; • Greater use of traditional elements executed in non-traditional materials; • Warmer color palette; and • Simplification of residential building eave lines.

The EIR also suggests specific ways to implement these measures, but other options could be considered. During the Single Family Individual Review process for the new residence, the Director of Planning and Community Environment will be responsible for detennining appropriate measures for compatibility that will be based on the information provided in the EIR. As mentioned previously, the applicants have modified their plans to incorporate several of the specific suggestions for complying with the mitigation measures. Their revised plans, dated August 28, 2010, are attached as well as a letter, dated June 3, 2010, describing their responses to the suggested design changes recommended by the historic consultant (see Attachments C and D) and incorporated in the EIR findings.

As described more fully in the letter, the applicants incorporated the following changes in the project:


• Removed the wall to the right of the front entry and replaced the entry walls with a column allowing greater visibility of the entry;

• U sed perforated zinc for the trellis and sunshade features and installed a glazed entry door with sidelites and a transom;

• U sed a warm stucco color for the building and incorporated more variety of materials and colors in the hardscape; and

• Modified the roof form on the south elevation and created one eave line on the north elevation.

Staff is requesting that the HRB review the measures proposed by the applicants to satisfy the mitigation identified in the EIR particularly focusing on simplification of the eave lines and the articulation of the front entry on the south elevation. The applicants have incorporated within their revised plans all of the recommendations included in the EIR for meeting the nlitigation measures with those two exceptions. The project does not include eliminating the deep eave overhangs because the applicants posit that the overhangs provide an important function in shading walls and windows; furthermore, they consider the overhangs consistent with predominant styles in Professorville.

The project includes an alternative measure for increasing the prominence of the front entry by creating a more articulated and less complex form for the south elevation. All of the other recommendations in the EIR for achieving the mitigation components are incorporated in the revised plans. The board could make other suggestions to address compatibility that would satisfy the four components of the mitigation measures; the applicants can elect to modify their project to incorporate any board recommendations. In conclusion, staff is recommending that the board focus its review and comment on the four components of the mitigation for 405 Lincoln Avenue identified in Attachment B, particularly on articulation of the front entry and simplification of eave lines.

Attachment A: Mitigation Monitoring Checklist Attachment B: Impacts and Mitigations from Project DEIR pages 4-2 through 4-31 Attachment C: Garavaglia letter entitled "Response to Applicant Comments" dated 5/14/10 Attachment D: Applicant's letter dated 6/312010 regarding Garavaglia Response to Applicant

Comments letter Attachment E: Project Plan Set with Proposed Mitigations (HRB Members Only)

COITRTESY COPIES

PREPARED BY:

ransportation Official

345 Lincoln Avenue in the Professorville Historic District of 4

MITIGATION MONITORING CHECKLIST--405 LINCOLN AVENUE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT

The environmental measures listed in column two below have been incorporated into the conditions of approval for the 405 Lincoln Avenue Single-Family Residential Replacement Project in order to mitigate identified environmental impacts. A completed and signed <chart will indicate that each mitigation requirement has been complied with, and that City and state monitoring requirements have been fulfilled with respect to Public Resources Code section 21081.6.

IDENTIFIED IMPACT

HISTORICAL RESOURCES IMPACTS

Impact 4-1: Incompatible Features of the Proposed Replacement Residence Within the Professorville Historic District. The residential building at 405 Lincoln does not independently meet the definition of a "historical resource" included in CEQA Guidelines section 15064.5(a) and reiterated in section 4.1.3(a) of this Draft EIR. Instead, the structure at 405 Lincoln is a part of and contributor to the historic resource identified as the Professorville Historic District. The proposed demolition of the structure does not equate to the demolition of the district, and will not materially alter, in an adverse manner, those characteristics that justify the District's inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historic Resources, or City of Palo Alto Historic Resources Inventory, However, the proposed replacement design could potentially be incompatible with and adversely affect the integrity of the historic district.

The proposed replacement design is properly contemporary and properly does not strive to falsely replicate the Spanish Eclectic style of the existing residence and neighboring structures. However, the design includes a color and materials palette, complicated building eave lines, fenestration and building massing characteristics, and

RELATED MITIGATION MEASURE (Performance Criteria)

Mitigation 4-1: Revise the proposed replacement design in a manner that, to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Community Environment, sufficiently incorporates features that ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood and greater Professorville Historic District. Implementation of this mitigation can

be achieved through implementation of a combination of measures, or measures similar to, the measures recommended by the City's historic preservation consultant as summarized in section 4.3.6, Review of Applicant's September 2009 Replacement Design, of this Draft EIR, to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Community Environment. These measures include: 1) Need for increased articulation of forms to provide more organized elevation composition; 2) Need for greater use of traditional elements executed in non-traditional materials; 3) Need for a warmer color palette; and 4) Need for further simplification of residential building eave lines.

Implementation of this mitigation would reduce this impact to a lessthan-significant level.

MONITORING

Implementation Entity

Applicant

Monitoring and Verification Entity

City Historic Preservation Planner

Timing Requirements

Prior to Issuance of Demolition Permit

VERIFICATION

Signature Date

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MONITORING VERIFICATION

IDENTIFIED IMPACT RELATED MITIGATION MEASURE Implementation Monitoring and Timing Signature Date (Performance Criteria) Entity Verification Entity Requirements

wood trellis and shading elements that are not sufficiently reflective of the Spanish Eclectic style and are not sufficiently compatible with the neighborhood and district. These incompatible replacement design aspects could adversely affect the integrity, and adversely alter the physical characteristics that convey the historical significance of the Professorville Historic District, and therefore represent a potentially significant impact on that historic resource.

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405 lincoln Single-Family Residential Project City of Palo Alto July 23.2010

4.3,5 Impacts and Mitigations

Draft E(R 4. Historical Resources Impacts

Page 4-22

Attachment B

Impact 4~1: Incompatible Features of the Proposed Replacement Residence Within the Pro{essorville Historic District. The residential building at 405 Lincoln does not independently meet the definition of a "historical resource" included in CEQA Guidelines section 15064.5(a) and reiterated in section 4. 1.3(a) of this Draft EI R. Instead, the structure at 405 Lincoln is a part of and contributor to the historic resource identified as the Professorville Historic District. The proposed demolition of the structure does not equate to the demolition of the district, and will not materially alter, in an adverse manner, those characteristics that justify the District's inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of-Historic Resources, or City of Palo Alto Historic Resources Inventory. However, the proposed replacement design could potentially be incompatible with and adversely affect the integrity of the historic district.

The proposed replacement design is properly contemporary and properly does not strive to falsely replicate the Spanish Eclectic style of the existing residence and neighboring structures. However, the design includes a color and materials palette, complicated building eave lines, fenestration and building massing characteristics, and wood trellis and shading elements that are not sufficiently reflective of the Spanish Eclectic style and are not sufficiently compatible with the neighborhood and district. These incompatible replacement design aspects could adversety affect the integrity, and adversely alter the physical characteristics that convey the historical significance of the ProfessoNilie Historic District, and therefore represent a potentially significant impact on that historic resource [see criterion (a) under sectio'n 4.3.1, Significance Criteria, above],

Explanation:

The inclusion of a structure as a part of and "contributor" within a historic district does not make that property an individual historic resource. However, the proposed demolition and replacement of the existing residential structure at 405 Lincoln could potentially reduce the integrity of the district. The overall Spanish Eclectic form, massing and styl1ng of the residential building at 405 Lincoln contribute to the character and integrity of the neighborhood and district. The proposed demolition alone would not, but the proposed replacement design may, materially alter in an adverse manner those characteristics that justify inclusion of the Professorville Historic District on the National and Calffornia register listings. 1

As indicated in section 4.1.2 of this chapter, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilltat'lon and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings are specifically cited under the CEQA Guidelines as applicable for the mitigation of impacts on historical resources. The City's historic preservation consultant has completed a comprehensive evaluation of the latest September 2009 replacement design for compliance with the ten Secretary of the Interior's Standards listed in section 4.1.2 of this chapter. The complete compliance analysis is

1These findings are detailed in the 405 Lincoln Avenue Demolition Impacts AnalYSis (DIAl, prepared by the City's historic preservation consultant in July 2010, and included as Appendix 9.5 of this Draft EIR.

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included in Appendix 9.4 of this Draft EIR. The summary discussion which follows paraphrases each of the Secretary's Standards and summarizes the historic preservation consultant's findings. First, for each standard, applicability to the project is indicated--i.e., applicable, partially applicable, or not applicable. Secondly, for each standard identified as applicable or partially applicable, a conclusion on level of project compliance is indicated; i.e.: compliant, marginally compliant or not compliant. A compliant finding indicates a less-thansignificant effect of the replacement design on the historic district. A marginally compliant finding indicates that design features should be further modified to ensure that the replacement structure is compatible with the neighborhood and district. A not compliant finding would indicate a potentially significant effect on the district, for which substantial design revisions (mitigations) would be warranted.

Standard 1. Standard 1 calls for the subject property to be used for its historic purpose.

Partially Applicable. Compliant. The property at 405 Lincoln Avenue does not qualify as an "individual historic building" on the National or state register or on the local historic inventory. The property does qualify as a part of and a "contributing building" to the historic district listed in the National and state register and local historic inventory. The property's historic purpose as a residential use contributes to the character and integrity of the historic district. The project would maintain the property's single-family residential use.

Standard 2. Standard 2 calls for the historic character of the property, including its characterdefining features, to be maintained and preserved, with avoidance of any removal or alteration of historic materials, features and spaces that characterize the property.

Partially applicable. Marginally compliant. The property at 405 Lincoln Avenue does not qualify as an "individual historic building" on the National or state register. The property does qualify as a "contributing building" to the historic district listed in the National and state register and local historic inventory. The proposed replacement design should reflect the existing features that qualify the property as a "contributor" to the district, including a residential scale and height (one to two and a half stories), front and side yard characteristics, and features rerrliniscent of the Spanish Eclectic style, including unified roof design and materials, muted colors, a prominent front entrance, and a recessed attached or a detached garage. In general, progress has been made since earlier project design submittals toward a ;-.3placement design that is compliant with this standard and maintains the characteristics of the property that contribute to the integrity of the historic district. In the review of this project, the City's historic preservation consultant has emphasized the need to reflect traditional Spanish Eclectic design conventions as a base in the replacement design, while encouraging contemporary design elements. However, the historic preservation consultant has also indicated that a design that relies too heavily on contemporary design concepts may fail to relate in a meaningful way to its historic surroundings, resulting in a lack of compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood and district. Additional design refinements are recommended to maintain contributing features and reduce project impacts on the integrity of the district. These recommended additional design refinements, which are summarized in section 4.3.6 which follows, include improved integration of traditional Spanish Eclectic design elements such as use of a warmer color palette and further simplification of residential building eave lines.

Standard 3. Standard 3 calls for recognizing the historic time, place and use of the historic resource being rehabilitated, while avoiding a false sense of historic character--e.g., avoiding introduction of false new historical elements or conjectural features from other buildings. The

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standard discourages introduction of new building designs that are intended to be indistinguishable from the authentic historic buildings in the district, with no evident contrast between historic and non-historic. Conversely, the standard suggests that introduction of neW designs that make no attempt at compatibility with historic surroundings is equally problematic.

Applicable. Marginally compliant. The proposed replacement design remains conspicuously contemporary in materials and massing, and would be easily recognized as a new modern building within the historic setting. The design properly does not strive to recreate a historical style, nor does it falsely represent a prior period of development within Professorville. Ultimately, the success of the replacement design, in terms of both aesthetics and compatibility with the surrounding historic district, would depend on its ability to harmoniously balance traditional style concepts with contemporary detailing.1

In the review of this project, the City's historic preservation consultant has emphasized the need to reflect traditional Spanish Eclectic design conventions as a design base, while encouraging Contemporary design elements. If the final design only utilized traditional Spanish Eclectic design conventions, it would fail to achieve differentiation from the authentic Spanish Eclectic buildings within the historic district as required for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Rehabilitation Standard Number 9 below. Additionally, there isa chance for creating a false sense of historical development if the new design mimics a historical style. Such an approach would violate Rehabilitation Standard Number 3. If the final design relies only on contemporary design concepts and choices, it may fail to relate in a meaningful way to the existing neighborhood and district, resulting in a lack of compatibility with the district as required for compliance with Standard Number 9. Both extremes would adversely impact the historical integrity of the Professorville district.

The city's historic preservation consultant indicates that there is a wide middle ground for achieving a balance between these two design objectives. A proper combination of traditional and contemporary design concepts can create an appropriate addition to the architectural continuum found within Professorville.2 Based on review of the latest September 2009 replacement design, the City's historic preservation consultant has recommended a specific combination of additional design re'flnements to ensure replacement design compatibility with the district. These recommendations are summarized in section 4.3.6 that follows.

Standard 4. Standard 4 calls for retention and preservation of changes that have occurred over time and have acquired historic significance in their own right.

Applicable. Marginally compliant. The current building at 405 Lincoln Avenue represents a later p,eriod of development within the district. The 1993 expansion of the district included numerous Spanish Eclectic style buildings and made this style more recognized in the historic context of Professorville. Unofficial surveys of the district by the historic preservation consultant have identified six moderately-sized Spanish Eclectic residences constructed before 1938, including 405 Lincoln. Most of these seven date to the mid-to-Iate 1920s.

The loss of a "contributing building" representative of this stylistic development would therefore have an impact on the district. However, 405 Lincoln Avenue is not the only building

1Appendix 9.6, page 2.

2Appendix 9.6, page 2.

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representative of the Spanish Eclectic style in the district. There are approximately 15 Spanish Eclectic style buildings of all eras in the district, including the subject property. 405 Lincoln is also not the best example of Spanish Eclectic residential design in the district, being greatly eclipsed, for example, by the Pettigrew House at 1336 Cowper Street.

The proposed replacement building design includes aspects of the Spanish Eclectic style, specifically in its relationship with outdoor spaces and its inclusion of landscape features such as low stucco walls, but is primarily a modern design. Modern design can be acceptable, but should be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Implementation of the additional design refinements recommended by the City's historic preservation consultant described in section 4.3.6 that follows would improve project compliance with Standard 4.

Standard 5. Standard 5 calls for preservation of distinct features, finishes, construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize the property to be preserved.

Partially applicable. Marginally compliant. Standard 5 implies that the physical characteristics--i.e., the distinct features, finishes, construction techniques, or examples of craftsmanship--that convey the historic significance of a historical property should be preserved. However, the residential building at 405 Lincoln does not meet the definition of an individual historical resource under the criteria listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15064.5(a)(3). As indicated previously (see section 4.2.7), the current Spanish Eclectic style of the main residential building at 405 Lincoln represents a later period of development within the district. As state previously, 405 Lincoln is not the only representative of the Spanish Eclectic style in the district, and is not the best example of the Spanish Eclectic residential design in the district. The existing residential structure is not a "ground breaking" or highly influential local example of Spanish Eclectic design. The structure is a relatively minor architectural element in the historic district. However, its overall Spanish Eclectic form, massing and styling do contribute to the character and integrity of the immediate neighborhood and to the district. The property is a part of, and has been identified as a "contributor" to, the historical resource identified as the Professorville Historic District. The mere inclusion of the structure as a "contributor"'within the historic district does not make 405 Lincoln a property to be preserved. However, Standard 5 suggests that the distinct features that characterize the district should be preserved. The distinct features that characterize Professorville (and the Spanish Eclectic style) are described in sections 4.2.4 and 4.2.5 herein. The proposed replacement design references some of these features, including:

• Overall height of two-and-a-half stories or less,

• Outdoor, semi-public spaces,

• Muted colors, although the proposed color palette is not earth-toned or warm like many of the other buildings in the district,

• Steel windows,

• Stucco finish, and

• Low stucco walls to define outdoor spaces.

The proposed stucco finish is an appropriate choice for a replacement structure within this area of Professorville. The proposed zinc roof, while unconventional, would have approximately the same texture and reflectivity as a tile roof and would have an aesthetic quality composed of overlapping forms with softened edges that is not dissimilar -From shingles or tiles.

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As for construction techniques, the proposed replacement design would introduce modern materials using modern construction methodology into a district distinguished by c. 1920 to 1938" buildings constructed primarily by hand with limited manufactured detailing. Thfs difference is to be expected of any new construction, but greater incorporation of traditional features could raise the level of compliance with Standard 5: The City's historic preservation consultant has made specific additional recommendations for improving replacement design incorporation of traditional (Spanish Eclectic style) features. The recommendations are summarized in section 4,3.6 that follows.

Standard 6, Standard 6 calls for repair rather than replacement of deteriorated historic features, or if the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old design characteristics (e.g .. colors. textures. materials).

Not applicable. Standard 6 is intended to guide additions and alterations to identified individual historic buildings. The objectives reflected in Standard 6 are not applicable to 405 Lincoln. As explained above under Standard 5, the property at 405 Lincoln does not qualify as an "individual historic resource. n The property qualifies as a "contributing building" to the historical district. The proposed replacement design should therefore reflect the existing features that characterize .the property. including a sImilar residential use and scale. a height of one to two and a half stories. similar front and side yards, muted colors, a prominent front entrance, a recessed attached or a detached garage, and other design features reminiscent of the SpEmish Eclectic style, plus ampJe IClndscDping.

Standard 7. Standard 7 calls for avoidance of physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that damage historical materials, and gentle surface cleaning techniques ..

Not applicable. The proposed replacement design does not include reuse or treatment of historic materials. No materials are to be salvaged from the existing bullding and incorporated into the replacement design.

Standard 8. Standard 8 calls for protection and preservation of significant archaeological resources affected by the project. and if resources must be disturbed. calls for mitigation.

Applicable. Compliant. At this time there is no indication that 405 Lincoln is in an area of known pre-historic activity. However, following standard local and CEQA protocol, in the event that archaeological resources or human remains are discovered during project grading or construction activities, all work would be required 10 cease within 150 feet of the find until it can be evaluated by a qualified, professional archaeologiSt. If the find is determined to be significant, appropriate mitigation measures would need to be developed and implemented in accordance with Appendix K of the CEQA Guidelines. Any discoveries would need to be reported to the City of Pt=l10 Atto community deVf~lopment director for forwarding to the Historic Resources Board.

Standard 9. Standard 9 states that new additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property, and calls for new work to be diffe(entiated from the old and be compatible with the massIng. size, scale and architectural features of the property to protect ils historic integrity and environment.

Partially applicable. Marginally compliant. Standard 9 applies to new additions. exterior alterations, or related new construction involving an individual historic building. As explained

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under Standard 2 above, the property at 405 Lincoln does not qualify as an individual historic resource. The general intent of the standard is that new construction should not replicate historic buildings, but rather should be compatible in design while still being differentiated. The standard is applicable to the project's replacement approach. See the relevant discussion above under Standard 3.

In addition, the relationships of the proposed replacement design to National and State "historic integrity" evaluation criteria listed in section 4.1.4 of this chapter are described below:

Site Planning. The current property is set in a landscaped setting with is primary entrance facing Lincoln Avenue. Neighboring properties all have easily discernable primary entrances that directly face the street. All are set back from the street by a front lawn or courtyard and are accessed via a walkway clearly visible from the sidewalk. They vary slightly in set-back, with residences on Lincoln Avenue recessed further on their lots than buildings on Waverly Street. The proposed replacement design generally respects these traditional site placement conventions.

Massing and Scale. Typical of more traditional styles of architecture, the homes throughout Professorville are composed of highly rectilinear forms. In many cases, bays, porches or additions project from the basic form, but when viewed in plan, still maintain an arrangement of forms that is largely parallel with the boundaries of their lots and with the street. '

The proposed replacement building design utilizes asymmetrical arrangements of fenestration and massing throughout. This differentiates the replacement design from its historical neighbors but is not necessarily compatible with these traditional designs. The more detailed design review discussion that follows in section 4.3.6 describes additional design refinements warranted to ensure that the areas of the building that face the fronting streets do so in a manner that is in keeping with the established street wall patterns and the rectilinear nature of neighboring properties.

Fenestration. There is a large amount of glass incorporated throughout the proposed replacement building design. This is typical of more modern architectural trends and is a clear differentiating aspect of the proposed new construction within the historic district. Careful balancing of the shapes, arrangements and types of glazing, as well as the overall fenestration patterns as viewed from the street, is necessary to maintain project compatibility with the neighborhood.

The proposed use of steel sash windows is compatible with many examples of the Spanish Eclectic style and compatible with the immediate setting and overall Professorville environment.

Additional recommendations by the City's historic preservation consultant for improving replacement design compatibility with the general massing and architectural features of the surrounding Professorville environment are summarized in section 4.3.6 that follows.

Landscaping. A formal landscaping design was not submitted for review and is not included as part of this review.

Materials. The proposed use of stucco cladding would be compatible within the immediate setting and overall historic environment of ProfessorvHle. This finish type, similar in style to

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the existing residence at 405 Lincoln Avenue, is also seen on nearby buildings. The use of a sand or lightly textured finish is recommended.

The proposed use of unpainted zinc for the roof shingles is a mechanism that would help to differentiate the new building from its historic neighbors. The patina and arrangement of the shingles, as shown in the proposed plans, lend a matte finish and a texture comparable to a clay tile roof, which would be more traditional for this type of building.

The proposed wood trellis and shading elements would be compatible with properties in the immediate setting. The Spanish Eclectic style often balances use of rigid materials (concrete, tile, etc) with softer materials that gain a patina over time from weather and use (wood, some stone. etc.) The effect is to humanize the design. However, additional design refinements are recommended in section 4.3.6 that follows to better integrate these elements into the overall project design.

Colorrrexture. The additional design refinements recommended In section 4 .3.6 that follows include use of a more muted and natural color and texture palette.

Standard 10. Standard 10 calls for new additions and adjacent or related new construction to be undertaken in a manner that. if removed in the future, would leave the essential form and integrity of the historic property unimpaired.

Not applicable. See explanation under Standard 6.

Mitigation 4-1: Revise the proposed replacement design in a manner that, to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Community Environment, sufficiently incorporates features that ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood J and ·greate r Professorville Historic District. I mplementation of this mitigation can be achieved through implementation of a combination of measures. or measures similar to. the measures recommended by the City's historic preservation consultant as summarized in section 4.3.6. Review of Applicant's September 2009 Replacement 11\ Design, of this Draft EIR, to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and ,H Comm-unity Environment.

Implementation of this mitigation would reduce this impact to a less-thanSignificant level.

4.3.6 Detailed Review of Applicant's September 2009 Oesign I)

Based on review of the latest September 2009 replacement design. the City's historic 'Ill

preservation consultant has identified the following design refinement needs as necessary to ensure replacement design compatibility within the Professorville Historic District (see Append!»,' 9.4. Remaining Secretary of the Interior Standards Compliance Issues, for the complete ': critique). Implementation of these recommendations or similar measures to the satisfaction Of the City's Director of Planning and Community Environment·would ensure the desired balance of traditional and contemporary design conventions and reduce project impacts on the integrity , of the neIghborhood historic district to a less than significant level.

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(1) Need for increased articulation of forms to provide more organized elevation composition. A typical feature of the Spanish Eclectic style is the use of variations in wall planes and forms to create variety in the overall building mass. These variations serve as organizing elements and allow for use of a wider variety of secondary design elements. For example, often a prominent tower element is used to provide a focal point between two flanking sections of different height or function. Such features are also often used to highlight an iITlportant function of the building, such as front entry.

The existing design employs this convention with success, on the east and west elevations (see Figure 3.17). On the east elevation, the chimney is paired with a two-story, gable-roofed form that projects slightly from the rest of the building mass. This element is visually distinct from the surrounding wall planes yet linked to the overall design by the shape and slope of the roof. Being the foremost building element, as well as containing the tallest element (chimney), it draws the eye to the northeast corner of the building. This element creates an obvious visual starting point for consideration of the overall design and serves to ground the more random arrangement of forms to the south of it.

On the west elevation a similar effect is achieved through the gable roof garage door/bay window form. It is the dominant design element on this elevation and it is firmly rooted in the shapes and forms of the secondary wall planes while still being distinct and visually prominent. Its strong organizational presence balances the less orderly and asymmetrical design choices to the south of it.

The greatest difficulty arises when considering the primary (south) elevation. Here there are no distinctive design elements that serve to direct the interpretation of the building massing. The projection of the shed roof over the stairwell, which could help to more clearly distinguish a central organizational massing to this elevation, is lost in the multiple secondary roof forms along the front of the building. In particular, the front entry and it gets lost when combined with the other, less important building forms on this elevation.

Recommendations:

(1a) Create a central massing elementto·ground the south elevation, perhaps by accentuating the form containing the stairwell. Making this a slightly projecting element would increase its importance as the foremost form as viewed from the street and would draw the eye to the center of the elevation. Additional refinement of the fenestration pattern on this elevation should also be considered in conjunction with creation of the projecting element.

(1 b) Increase the prominence of the front entry. The lack of strong visual distinction of the entrance within the overall design of the elevation is the primary concern. Generally the front entries in Spanish Eclectic houses were marked with relatively elaborate design conventions such as towers, arches, tiles, or special treatment of the mass containing the entry feature. Suggestions to improve the strength of the front entry made thus far have included the addition of a secondary freestanding wall element to ground the corner of the building more fully. This prior suggestion is reflected in the current drawings. An additional, more architecturally unifying suggestion is to extend the existing roof over the entry further to the east, creating a full corner to the roof hip rather than a partial intersection of two shed roof structures. This measure would extend the roof out to approximately the location of the freestanding wall element. This feature could be incorporated more fully into the design by utilizing a column and beam assembly to support the roof. The Spanish Eclectic style often makes use of such features to enclose

T:110669\OEIR\4 (10669).doc



Page 4-30

outdoor spaces where heavy roofs are supported by decoratively treated columns to shade and mark courtyard areas.

(2) Need for greater use of traditional elements executed in non·traditional materials. Figure 3.17 shows trellis and sunshade features executed in wood. It also shows the introduction of a solid, rusticated wood front door. While both of these are appropriate traditional design characteristics, the introduction of these wooden elements does not appear part of a unified design concept in the current proposed design. Rather, they appear more as added·on elements with no clear connection to the larger design.

The use of a perforated, corrugated zinc sunshade material, such as that presented in the applicant's previous design documents, can be used to great affect in this design provided that it is subtle and used in a way that is more closely in keeping with traditional forms and placement. In the case of the front door, the heavy, solid door seems to emphasize the relative obscurity of the front entry.

The use of more traditional materials in non-traditional forms is one way to try to increase the overtone of the traditional Spanish Eclectic style in a modern design. However, such forms should be fully integrated into the overall design concept rather than applied to the building as an add-on. Another suggested way to approach the issue in a modern design is to use traditional forms with non-traditional materials. Given the extensive use of non·traditional materials in the current proposed design, this second approach may prove more successful in bringing the proposed project into greater compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood and District

Recommendations:

(2a), Reinstate the use of perforated zinc for the trellis and sunshade features, but alter the positioning of these elements to limit their visual impact. A horizontal installation with a squared off structural element, in a traditional assembly configuration, would limit the amount of material visible at street level and be more in keeping with the trellis forms typically used in Spanish Eclectic courtyards and gardens. Rather than multiple trellises at differing heights, installation of two trellises, one at the transom line and one at the gutter line is suggested.

(2b) Install a modern glazed entry door assembly. Use of a larger, well-defined glazed door assembly (including sidelite(s) and/or a transom) that is similar in configuration to the windows on the east elevation is recommended. This modern configuration would be more in keeping with the overall design of the house than the heavy wood door shown in the current review drawing set. A prominent front entry is a key design characteristic of the Spanish Eclectic style. Use of an appropriate modern and distinctive front door assembly is in keeping with this characteristic. When coupled with larger modifications to the building mass organization discussed above, a more prominent front entry can be created. Such a feature would be still be recessed (a typical traditional detail) but would be more visually prominent and more obvious to foot traffic (a typical Spanish Eclectic design characteristic.)

(3) Need for a warmer color palette. A warm, relatively neutral color palette is also a character-defining feature of the Spanish Eclectic style. The proposed design has a material palette that has a proper variety of textures, particularly in the choice of the zinc roof material that would continue to soften in texture as it ages. However the overall color palette is cooler and more monotone than typically found on more traditional designs found on neighboring properties. A more traditional approach would be to use: (a) a warm neutral wall color to

T:11066910EIR14 (10669).doc

405 Lincoln Single-Family Residential Project City of Pa 10 Alto July 23, 2010


Page 4-31

balance a strong roof color; (b) colorful localized decorative details such as tiles or stained glass; and (c) dark trim colors to highlight windows and doors. Increased compatibility with the neighboting properties and the district could be achieved by such adjustments to the color palette.

Recommendations:

(3a) Use an integral stucco color with a stronger red/orange/yellow undertone. A slight warming of the stucco color would more strongly balance the inherently cool nature of the zinc roof materials and zinc and steel trellis assembly. Also, the warmer wall color would provide a base for selecting terrace and driveway materials in an appropriate color range.

(3b) Incorporate more variety of materials and/or color in the hardscape materials to further balance the coolness of the roof and the relatively neutral nature of the wall color. This measure' would provide for greater visual depth as well as emphasize the textural differences between the "natural" materials (stone and stucco) and the "manufactured" elements (roofing and support structure.)

(3c) Incorporate more variety of color in the building palette. Stone sills are called out on the drawings but no samples were included for review. A dark stone would be most appropriate, especially when coupled with a dark, yet warm color for the door and window trim. Such a choice would further accentuate these design features in a way that follows traditional Spanish Eclectic designs and increases project compatibility with the district.

(4) Need for furlher simplification of residential building eave lines. The current design of the north and south elevations includes a wide variety of eave lines. This contributes to an overall lack in mass organization on these elevations. While a variety of asymmetrical roof forms is typical for Spanish Eclectic styles, such forms tend to share similar eave heights and lines across a given fac;ade, visually unifying separate elements into the overall design.

Recommendations:

(4a) Keep the eaves over the frOnt entry at their current height but modify the roof form to more closely resemble that over "Michelle's Office." This measure would create more symmetry on this elevation around the central stairwell roof form.

(4b) On the north elevation, create one eave line across "Guest Suite" instead of the two that are currently shown on the proposed design. Eliminate the extended eave over the second story bedroom window to create a single line along this room. Employ a sunshade element if further shading is desired over this window.

(4c) On all elevations, eliminate the deep overhangs. These features are not in keeping with a traditional Spanish Eclectic style building and are not employed uniformly over the entire building design. Deep overhangs appear in some locations and sunshades in other locations. Overhangs should be limited in depth to 12-inches or less. Exceptions to this are at the gable ends where there should be no overhang, or in other locations where a 'slightly greater depth. would allow for more uniformity in eave lines across a fac;ade. Generally, sunshades or landscaping solutions are more appropriate responses where increased shade is desired. If the intent is to provide definition of the roof forms through shadow lines, use of a dark trim color along the fascia may be an alternative solution.

T:\ 1 0669\OEIR\4 (10669).doc

ARCHl TEero RE

May 14, 2010

Julie Ca porgno City of Palo Alto

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250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301

Re: Response to Applicant Comments Project Number: 2007043 - 405 Lincoln A venue Palo Alto

Dear Julie,

Attachment C

In response to the latest discussions regarding the compliance of the proposed replacement design for 405 Lincoln Avenue, Palo Alto, Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. has prepared the following memo outlining the remaining compliance issues that we feel should be further addressed to bring the project into an acceptable level of compatibility with the surrounding Professorville Historic District and related Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. For simplicity, we have not summarized the latest project design, but present here only our responses to this latest round of review.

The Applicant has chosen to undertake a design that uses traditional design elements in the Spanish Eclectic style as a point of reference for the contemporary project repreSented on the submitted sheets. In response to this approach, we have present the following analysis and suggestions as a framework for creating a design that is in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. For this, we reviewed the following applicant-submitted draWing sheets:

Sheet 2.0 - Cover Sheet - dated August 28, 2009 Sheet 2.1 - Building Plans - dated July 29,2009 with September 8, 2009 mitigations Sheet 2.2 - Building Elevations - dated July 29, 2009 with September 8,2009 mitigations Sheet 2.3 - Building Sections - Dated August 31, 2009

Because the sheets were not necessarily coordinated and consistent with one other, we concentrated our review on the most pertinent elevations presented on Sheet 2.2. In the review, we again reference the character-defining features of the Spanish E.c1ectic style. This is the style of the existing building at 405 Lincoln and previous evaluations have established that this is the predominant style for this area of Professorville.ln an effort to maintain the architectural diversity that is a character-defining feature of the historic district, it has been recommended that the replacement building draw inspiration only from the existing Spanish Eclectic architecture. This design concept continues to be advocated as in previous reviews.

Why Spanish Eclectic The Spanish Eclectic style is the traditional, historical style that is used at the foundation ror the follOWing discussions. This style is the most appropriate because it: (1) is a style historically

Innovating Tradition

405 Lincoln Avenue Response to Applicant Comments

14 May 2010

found within the Professorville Historic District; (2) is the style of the existing building at 405 Lincoln Avenue; and (3) is the predominant style in the immediate neighborhood around 405 Lincoln. The integrity of the Professorville District is partially based on its mixture of styles. To maintain this integrity, new construction should be sensitive to the relative proportions of the various styles within the District and their distribution patterns throughout the district. When. mapped, these styles can provide a rough idea of the construction chronology and development patterns of the neighborhood; large shingle-style buildings came first, followed by more modest bungalows, followed by revival style homes, etc. Basing the traditional aspects of the proposed design for the Project on the character-defining features of the Spanish Eclectic style helps to maintain a semblance of this design continuum while not adversely impacting the integrity of the District. It references what is currently at 405 Lincoln Avenue while not recreating it.

Design Background In creating a modem, compatible design within the parameters of a historically recognized style, it is important to determine the essential design elements and design conventions that communicate the traditional architecture. Incorporating these basic traditional design elements and conventions into a new design then creates a foundation for modern interpretation and variation. Ultimately the success of the design, in terms of both aesthetics and compatibility, lies in its ability to harmoniously balance traditional concepts and contemporary detailing. An overt interplay of the two is needed to ground the new design in a familiar design language that is visually related to the surrounding built environment. The traditional concepts must be clearly communicated in order to provide a context for interpretation of the non-traditional design choices. For this project, therefore, we continually reference traditional Spanish Eclectic design conventions as a way of providing a base for the encouraged contemporary elements of the design. If the final design only utilizes traditional design conventions, then it will fail to achieve differentiation from the authentic historic buildings within the historic district as required for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Rehabilitation Standard Number 9. Additionally, there is a chance for creating a false sense of historical development if the new design mimics a historical style. Such an approach violates Rehabilitation Standard Number 3. At the opposite end of the design spectrum, if the final design relies only on contemporary design concepts and choices, it may fail to relate in a meaningful way to its historic surroundings, providing no compatibility with the surrounding historic district as required for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Rehabilitation Standard NUlTtber 9. Both extremes adversely impact the historical integrity of the Professorville district. There is a wide middle ground for achieving a balance between these two design objectives where a combination of traditiQnal and contemporary design concepts can create an appropriate addition to the architectural continuum found within Professorville.

Review Summary Based on our recent review of the submitted sheets, we have the following comments regarding the proposed design's compatibility within the Professorville Historic District. Each item highlights areas that require further refinement with suggestions for addressing the issues presented.

1. Increased articulation of forms to provide organization to elevation composition.

A typical feature of the Spanish Eclectic style is the use of variations in wall planes and forms to create variety in the overall composition of the building mass. These variations serve as organizing elements for the design and allow for greater employment of a wide variety of secondary design elements. For example, often a prominent tower element is used to provide a focal point between two flanking sections of different height or function. The

Page 2 of 6

405 Lincoln Avenue Response to Applicant Comments

14 May 2010

tower helps to direct the eye across the fac;ade. Such features are often used to highlight an important function of the building, such as front entry.

The existing design employs this convention, with success, on the east and west elevations. On the east elevation, the chimney is paired with a two-story, gable-roofed form that projects slightly from the rest of the building mass. It is visually distinct from the surrounding wall planes yet united to the overall design in the shape and slope of the roof. Being the foremost building section, as well as containing the tallest element (chimney), the eye is drawn to the northeast corner of the building. It creates an obvious visual starting point for consideration of the overall design and serves to ground the more random arrangement of forms to the south of it.

On the west elevation a similar effect is achieved through the gable roof garage door Ibay window form. It is the dominant design element on this elevation and it is firmly rooted in the shapes and forms of the secondary wall planes while still being distinct and visually prominent. Its strong organizational presence balances the less orderly and asymmetrical design choices to the south of it.

The greatest difficulty arises when considering the primary (south) elevation. Here there are no distinctive design elements that serve to direct the interpretation of the building massing. The projections of the shed roof over the stairwell, which could help to more clearly distinguish a central organizational massing to this elevation, is lost in the myriad secondary roof forms along the front of the building. This is particularly problematic as there is little in the design to highlight the front entry and it gets lost when combined with the other, less important building forms on this elevation.

Suggestions la. Create a central massing element to ground this elevation. One way to do this is to

accentuate the form containing the stairwell. By making this a slightly projecting element, it increases in importance as the foremost form as viewed from the street. It would draw the eye to the center of the elevation. Additional refinement of the fenestration pattern on this element should also be considered in conjunction with creation of a projecting element. From this basic design reconsideration, further modifications to the east of this element can create a more visually prominent front entry.

lb. Increase the prominence of the front entry. Here it is not the material of the front door so much as its lack of obvious visual distinction within the overall design of the elevation that is the primary concern. Generally the front entries in Spanish Eclectic houses were marked with relatively elaborate design conventions such as towers, arches, tiles, or special treatment of the mass containing the entry feature. Suggestions to improve the strength of the design features around the front entry made thus far included the addition of a secondary freestanding wall element to ground the comer of the building more fully. 'This prior suggestion is reflected in the drawings reviewed. An additional, more architecturally unifying suggestion is to extend the existing roof over the entry further to the east, creating a full comer to the roof hip rather than a partial intersection of two shed roof structures. This would extend the roof out to approximately the location of the freestanding wall element. This could be incorporated more fully into the design by utilizing a column and beam assembly to support the roof. The Spanish Eclectic design often made use of such features to enclose outdoor spaces where heavy roofs were supported by decoratively treated columns to shade and mark courtyard areas.

2. Greater use of traditional elements executed in non-traditional materials

Page 3 of 6

405 Lincoln A venue Response to Applicant Comments

14 May 2010

Sheet 2.2 shows the trellis and sunshade features executed in wood. It also shows the introduction of a solid, rusticated wood front door. While both of these are appropriate traditional design characteristics, in the context of the current proposed design the introduction of these wooden elements does not appear part of a unified design concept. Rather, they appear more as added-on elements with no clear connection to the larger design. The use of a perforated, corrugated zinc material, such as that presented in previous documents, can be used to great affect in this design provided that it is subtle and used in a way that is more closely in keeping with traditional forms and placement. In the case of the front door, the heavy, solid door seems to emphasize the relative obscurity of the front entry.

The use of more traditional materials in non-traditional forms is one way to try to bring in an overtone of traditional Spanish Eclectic design into a modern project. However, such forms have to be incorporated as part of the overall design concept and not simply applied to the building as an add -on. Another suggested way to approach the issue is to use traditional forms in non-traditional materials. Given the extensive use of non-traditional materials in the current proposed design, this second approach may prove more successful than the first in bringing the proposed project into greater compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood and District.

Su~~estions 2a. Reinstate the use of perforated zinc for the trellis and sunshade features, but alter the

'positioning of these elements to limit their visual impact. A horizontal installation with a squared off structural element, in a traditional assembly configuration, would greatly limit the amount of material visible at street level and be more in keeping with the trellis forms typically used in Spanish Eclectic courtyards and gardens. Multiple trellises at differing heights may be required to simulate the coverage of the currently proposed element. Installation of two trellises, one at the transom line and one at the gutter line is suggested.

2b. Installation of a modern glazed entry door assembly. Use of a larger, well-defined glazed door assembly (including sidelite(s) and/ or a transom) that is similar in configuration to the windows on the east elevation is recommended. Such an assembly is shown on Sheet 2.4 of the April 19, 2009 Impact Analysis drawings. This style of configuration is modern and would be more in keeping with the overall design of the house than the heavy wood door shown in the current review drawing set. A prominent front entry is a key design characteristic of the Spanish Eclectic style. Use of an appropriate modem and distinctive front door assembly is in keeping with this characteristic. When coupled with larger modifications to the building mass organization discussed above, a more prominent front entry can be created. Such a feature would be still be recessed (a typical traditional detail) but would be marked by a stronger design that would be more obvious to foot traffic (also a typical Spanish Eclectic design characteristic.)

3. Use of a warmer color palette.

A warm, relatively neutral color palette is a character-defining feature of the Spanish Eclectic style. The proposed design has a material palette that has a welcomed variety of textures, particularly in the choice of the zinc roof material that will continue to soften in texture as it ages. However the overall color palette is cooler and more monotone than would typically be found on a more traditional design like those found on the neighboring properties. A more traditional design concept is to use: (1) a warm neutral wall color to balance a strong roof color; (2) colorful localized decorative details such as tiles or stained

Page 4 of 6

40S Lincoln Avenue Response to Applicant Comments

14 May 2010

glass; and (3) dark trim colors to highlight windows and doors. Increased compatibility with the neighboring properties and the district could be obtained by such adjustments to the color palette, as well as through the introduction of more variety in shading in the hardscape materials .

. Suggestions 3a. Use an integral stucco color with a stronger red/ orange/yellow undertone. A slight

warming of the stucco color will more strongly balance the inherently cool nature of the zinc roof materials and zinc and steel trellis assembly. Also, use the warmer wall color as a base for selecting terrace and driveway materials in an appropriate color range.

3b. Incorporate more variety of materials and / or color in the hardscape materials to further balance the coolness of the roof and the relatively neutral nature of the wall color. This will provide for greater visual depth as well as emphasize the textural differences between the "natural" materials (stone and stucco) and the "manufactured" elements (roofing and support structure.)

3c. Incorporate more variety of color in the building palette. Stone sills are called out on the drawings but no samples were included for review. A dark stone would be most appropriate, especially when coupled with a dark, yet warm color for the door and window trim. Such a choice would further accentuate these design features in a way that follows traditional Spanish Eclectic designs and increases project compatibility with the district.

4. Further simplification of eave lines.

The north and south elevations have a wide variety of eave lines. There are many different small projections over windows or around comers or slight roof level changes from one side of the elevation to the other. While the ridgelines have been simplified, the shed roofs along the first floor line still lack a unifying design concept. This contributes to the apparent lack of an overall massing organization to these elevations. While a variety of asymmetrical roof forms is typical for Spanish Eclectic styles, these forms tend to share similar eave heights and lines across a given fa~ade. This visually ties the separate elements together into the overall design.

Suggestions 4a. Keep the eaves over the front entry at their current height but modify the roof form to more

closely resemble that over Michelle's Office. This would create more symmetry on this elevation around the central stairwell roof form.

4b. On the north elevation, create one eave line across'Guest Suite instead of the two that are currently shown on the proposed design. Eliminate the extended eave over the second story bedroom window to create a single line along this room. Employ a sunshade element if further shading is desired over this window.

4c. On all elevations, eliminate the deep overhangs. These features are not in keeping with a traditional Spanish Eclectic style building and are not employed uniformly over the entire building design. Deep overhangs appear in some locations and sunshades in other locations. Overhangs should be limited in depth to 12-inches or less. Exceptions to this are at the gable ends where there should be no overhang, or in other locations where a slightly greater depth would allow for more uniformity in eave lines across a fa~ade. Generally, sunshades or landscaping solutions are more appropriate responses where increased shade is desired.

PageS of 6

405 Lincoln A venue Response to Applicant Comments

14 May 2010

If the intent is to provide definition of the roof forms through shadow lines, use of a dark trim color along the fascia may be an alternative solution.

Conclusion In general, progress is being made toward a replacement building design that is compatible with, yet differentiated from, the district as a whole and with the immediate surrounding properties. Refinements of the presented design that incorporate the suggestions above will improve the balance of traditional and contemporary design conventions.

Sincerely,

Michael Garavaglia, AlA Principal

Cc: John Wagstaff Dennis Backlund Steven Turner Curtis Williams

Page 6 of 6

405 Lincoln, Palo Alto

To: Curtis Williams Julie Caporgno

Allen Akin and Michelle Arden 784 Palo Alto Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94301

Department of Planning & Community Interest City of Palo Alto

Re: Garavaglia Response to Applicant Comments Project Number: 2007043 - 405 Lincoln Avenue Palo Alto

June 3,2010

Dear Mr. Williams and Ms. Caporgno,

Attachment D

June 3, 2010

This letter outlines our response to Garavaglia Architecture's memo, dated May 14, 2010, regarding the proposed house design for 405 Lincoln Ave. In this memo, Garavaglia makes a number of suggestions for relatively minor modifications to the design which, in their view, would further increase the design's compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. We believe that our proposed modifications in response to these suggestions will indeed result in a "combination of traditional and contemporary design concepts that create an appropriate addition to the architectural continuum found within Professorville (Garavaglia memo, page 2)." In the very few cases where we have not directly followed Garavaglia's suggestions, we include a discussion and justification. Garavagalia's four main points and the related specific recommendations are numbered as in their memo; they are presented in italic throughout the letter.

1. Increased articulation offorms to provide organization to elevation composition.

1 a. Create a central massing element to ground this (south) elevation. 1 h. Increase prominence of the front entry.

It is clear from this memo, and from the many previous design meetings with Garavaglia, that the prominence of the front entry is of importance. The Spanish Colonial or Spanish Eclectic styles characteristically have an asymmetric fa9ade which may include an asymmetric front entry that serves to anchor one side of the building. 1 In our view, a grounding element can thus be provided through increased pronlinence of the entry without either introducing a competing adjacent (central) massing element or extending roofiines to the east well beyond the actual house structure. In order to both achieve a more prominent entry and to realize a more

1 Asymmetric fa9ade (Spanish Colonial Revival): Dr. Anthony Kirk (2010), Peer Review of "405 Lincoln Avenue: Demolition Impacts Analysis". Asymmetric entry (Spanish Eclectic): McAlester,Virginia and Lee (1988). A Field Guide To American Houses. Alfred A.Knopf: New York. Many other such references can be cited. The Spanish Colonial Revival house at 409 Lincoln Ave, immediately adjacent to 405 Lincoln, offers a good example ofa highly asymmetric front fa9ade in an L-shaped form.

405 Lincoln, Palo Alto June 3, 2010

articulated, less complex fonn for this south elevation, we have removed the freestanding nonstructural wall to the right of the entry, making the front entry the clear anchor for the elevation. As Garavagalia suggests, we have also replaced the entry walls with a wide column to support the entry roof. The increased openness of the recessed entry results in much greater visibility from the street for both the entry and its II-foot-wide portico. Greater visibility of this spacious portico offers the opportunity to further emphasize the entry through the use of decorative tile and prominent decorative objects in conjunction with the expanded door assembly (see 2b) and the broad supporting column. (For example, we own an unusual oversized olive oil jar which could be placed adjacent to the door assembly). A (warmly colored - see 3b) path to the entry from the sidewalk might now also broaden without introducing incongruity in width between a wide path and a narrower portico opening. Garavaglia notes that decorative tiles were among the Spanish Colonial design conventions used to achieve prominence of specific elements; we plan to introduce decorative tiles in the low walls leading to the entry which will further tie these walls into the entry design.

2, Greater use of traditional elements executed in non-traditional materials.

2a. Reinstate the use of perforated zinc for the trellis and sunshade jeatures. 2b. Installation of a modern glazed entry door assembly.

We have reinstated the use of perforated zinc for the trellis and sunshade features; also, as Garavaglia suggests, there are multiple trellises at differing heights. The trellis is slanted to follow the roofline, avoiding the introduction of new roof projections at different angles (which would create further roofline complexity). The slanted trellis also provides the most optimal passive solar protection.

We have replaced the wood door with a large glazed door assembly with side lites and a transom. Given the more open entry portico, the door assembly will now be fully visible from the street.

3. Use of a warmer color palette

3a. Use an integral stucco color with a stronger red/orange/yellow undertone. 3b. Incorporate more variety of materials and/or color in the hardscape materials to jurther balance the coolness of the roof and the relatively neutral nature of the wall color. 3c. Incorporate more variety of color in the building palette.

We propose a warm terra cotta stucco color and a variety of materials and colors in the hardscape. A dark stone will be used for the stone sills to provide contrast to the terracotta stucco; window and doors treatments will be a complementary but contrasting dark, warm color.

2

405 Lincoln, Palo Alto June 3, 2010

4. Further simplification of eave lines.

4a. Keep the eaves over the front entry at their current height but modify the roof form to more closely resemble that over Michelle's office. 4b. On the north elevation, create one eave line across the Guest Suite instead of the two shown on the proposed design. Eliminate the extended eave over the second story bedroom window to create a single line along this room. 4c. On all elevations, eliminate the deep overhangs.

The eaves over the front entry will retain their current height, and the roof form is now the same as that over Michelle's office.

On the north elevation, there is now one eave line across the Guest Suite and one eave line over the second story bedroom window.

4c. is the one suggestion by Garavaglia that we do not wish to follow. As noted in the preface to the Garavaglia Response, a goal of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards is not to nlinlic the characteristics of a particular style, in this case Spanish Colonial Revival, but to marry both traditional and contenlporary design concepts into a harmonious design. (The existing building at 405 Lincoln, in fact, combines Spanish Colonial Revival, Arts and Crafts, and other unrelated design styles.) One major functional objective for this residence is energy efficiency. We do not intend to install air conditioning. Deep overhangs are consistent with the Craftsman and Arts and Crafts styles, both predominant in Professorville, and these overhangs provide an important function in shading both walls and windows. We therefore propose to maintain deep overhangs throughout the structure due to their significant passive 'solar advantages.

Michelle Arden and Allen Akin

Cc: Gary Baum, city attorney Donald Larkin, deputy city attorney Steven Cassidy, attorney Robert Peterson, architect Dr. Anthony Kirk, historic consultant

3

historic resources board - city of palo alto

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