Drawing shows planned La Marie's deck during the day (image courtesy of Cochran Design Collaborative)
FILE - LaMarie's at Magretta Hall, 201 Broad Street (Lisa Hall, RN-T.com)
A large crowd filled the chambers of the Rome Historic Presevration Commission Wednesday on behalf of a project to add roof-top dining to LaMarie's at Magretta Hall, 200 Broad Street. Original plans were rejected in August but the revised design got unanimous approval from the HPC Wednesday. (Doug Walker / Rome News-Tribune)
Drawing of planned La Marie's Deck at night (image courtesy of Cochran Design Collaborative)
Drawing shows planned La Marie's deck from above (image courtesy of Cochran Design Collaborative)
“This is a perfect example that progress and preservation can co-exist,” said Downtown Development Director Ann Arnold.
Owner Marie Brinson said she does not have a specific timetable for the 200 Broad St. project.
“I know that we will begin the planning, the bids and all of that once we’ve had a chance to get the paperwork,” Brinson said. “I would really not be surprised if it was done by the holidays.”
The HPC rejected the original plans for the project in August, but did so without prejudice, allowing Brinson and architects at the Cochran Design Collaborative to make revisions to the original proposal.
“The material changes are huge,” Arnold said.
The project includes a 775-square-foot enclosed dining room above the Wisteria Room that juts into the adjacent parking lot. It also includes approximately 1,300 square feet of open deck dining space that spans the parking lot and is attached to the building at 210 Broad St.
Several downtown business owners spoke in favor of Brinson’s project. Larry Alford, owner of Rome Cleaners, told the panel that if they didn’t approve the new design plan, then they would never approve any new construction on Broad Street.
“When someone visits Broad Street they will think it’s been there all along,” said Elaine Abercrombie of Greene’s Jewelers.
Roger Wade, who owns several properties on Broad Street, said there was little question that the project would add to the value of his historic properties.
Steven McDowell, chairman of the HPC, thanked Brinson and her architects for taking what the HPC said last month to heart.
“This design is much improved,” McDowell said.
Board member Tom Sills
said the new design does a tremendous job of enhancing the architectural flow of the whole block.
In other business, the HPC approved plans for a fenced dog park adjacent to the building at 713-715 Avenue A. Don McDonald said he hoped his plans to create the space on vacant property would help the community.
Minor changes to the First Methodist Children’s Home at 206 E. Second St. were also approved. The modifications include new gutters and a storm door on the rear of the building.
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