In a very short meeting this month, the city of Greenville’s Design Review Board – Urban Panel heard only two applications and there were no informal reviews presented.
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201 N. Main St.
The first application, submitted by Johnston Design Group, was to modify a request previously approved in the space on North Main Street formerly occupied by Ayers Leather and now the current location of Lou Lou Boutique, among others.
The application requested approval to paint the brick veneer of the building. City staff said the building received historical status, which means the preservation overlay district ordinance would apply and historically unpainted brick should not be painted. Staff recommended denial of the application.
The blemishes and rust stains on the unique brick are “part of the character of the building,” said staff. Board member Carmella Cioffi said that if the owner hadn’t received historical status it would be a different discussion.
“If we keep painting buildings on Main Street, it will look like Disneyland,” said board member Danielle Fontaine.
The board denied the application.
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245-247 N. Main St.
Since the applicant wasn’t present, this discussion went quickly. The application is to add a rooftop staircase to the building on North Main that is part of the new event venue, The Upper Room. City staff asked if the board would provide comments and give the ability to handle at staff level. Cioffi said the impact was “minimal” and “doubts that anyone would be able to see the stairs.” The board agreed to allow city staff to proceed.
