PORTSMOUTH Members of the city's Historic District Commission reviewed massing plans for a proposed Moxy Hotel Wednesday night, when consensus was the square footage is fine, but architectural alternatives to a box shape would be preferable.
"If you did something really exciting, maybe you'd get permission to go even higher," than the proposed five stories, said HDC Chair Vince Lombardi.
The 84-room Portsmouth Moxy hotel is proposed for 53 Green St. on a 1.8-acre site, thats currently a parking lot and one-story row of storefronts. Plans show 30% of the lot would be dedicated as a public pedestrian alley, connecting to the planned North Mill Pond Greenway, as an incentive for allowing the fifth floor.
Development partners are property owner Douglas Pinciaro, AC Hotel, XSS Hotels and Cathartes which developed the AC Hotel. Cathartes principal Jeff Johnston appeared at the Feb. 5 HDC work session with architect Carla Goodnight and said the Moxy hotel is "geared more toward the millennial traveler." He said the development team hopes those future guests will also use the restaurant, lobby and bar at their neighboring AC Hotel.
While the Moxy hotel would be adjacent to the AC Hotel, and share a lot if a property line adjustment is approved, Johnston said Moxy would be a separate boutique hotel and reminded, "We haven't really dug into the materials yet."
Both are Marriott properties.
Goodnight said the massing plan shows a 4,500-square-foot footprint, with the second to fifth floors being 7,000 square feet. The smaller ground-level floor is due to a cantilevered overhang that is part of the public space plan. She said as proposed, the building would have one of the smaller footprints in the area.
Massing plans do not show proposed architectural features, just the size and shape of planned buildings. In response to Moxy hotel's massing plan, HDC member Margot Doering called it, "Yet another rectangular box" that "doesn't really add to the neighborhood." She said she thought the massing was "doable," but not as presented in rectangular shape.
HDC member Reagan Ruedig asked if the upper floors could be stepped back, as was done with the AC Hotel, "so it's not this huge rectangular box."
Paige Trace, the City Council's liaison to the HDC, asked if the design could have the upper floors step up on two sides of the building.
"I'm glad to hear you're open to drama," Goodnight replied.
Ruedig said the city's North End is an area where architectural experimentation is welcome.
Principal Planner Nick Cracknell noted the plans showed cafe tables in the public-access area, which he thought appeared to be privatizing the public space. Johnston said the drawings are early, the area will be lit, public and, like his Portwalk development, will include arts events.
Johnson said signage will play a big role in ensuring the public knows the space is public. He said during discussions with city planners, it was mentioned the space could be like Commercial Alley, but his team made it wider.
Lombardi said the proposed public space, "seems like an extension of the lobbies."
Commission member Heinz Sauk-Schubert noted there's an adjacent area for generators and they make the public space seem like "a service entrance."
Johnston said he welcomed the feedback and would return with more details based on the HDC comments. The commission accepted his invitation to take a site walk and visit the AC Hotel before the next work session.
"exciting" - Google News
February 07, 2020 at 12:07AM
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Moxy Hotel could go higher than 5 stories if design more exciting - Seacoastonline.com
"exciting" - Google News
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