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<br />Variance No. 2004-09 <br />September 27, 2004 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />Project Description <br /> <br />The proj ect consists of a "martini" bar occupying approximately 2,249 <br />square feet on the ground floor of the Santora Building. The floor plan <br />proposes a layout consisting of a fixed bar, storage space and non-fixed <br />seating and tables (Exhibit 3). The applicant proposes to operate the <br />business between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Entertainment is <br />proposed to include a DJ. No exterior changes are requested, although <br />staff would anticipate an exterior sign to identify the use. <br /> <br />Analysis of the Issues <br /> <br />The emergence of the Artists Village, with a mix of residential, office <br />and commercial uses, finds the city at a point where prior citywide policy <br />and District Center obj ecti ves have come to a crossroad. In the last <br />several years, the Artists Village has experienced tremendous growth in <br />commercial and housing development. Within the Village and surrounding <br />area, several developments exist or are in the process of completion. <br />Eateries have begun to further establish themselves including Memphis <br />Restaurant, Gypsy Den, Pangea, Starbuck's Coffee and Trattoria Ciao; <br />office uses such as DGWB, Nestor + Gaffney Architecture, Rosenow Spevacek <br />Group and Truth and Advertising; residences within the Olson lofts, Cal <br />State Fullerton student and faculty housing and Plaza del Sol apartments; <br />and entertainment within the Empire Building (Rude Guerilla theatrical <br />group) and the Grand Central Arts Theater. <br /> <br />Each of these developments, when approved, was setting a stage for a <br />potentially dynamic living community operating within an urban <br />environment. The integration of living, working and entertainment space <br />provides lifestyles that has proven successful throughout downtowns <br />within the United States and add to the dynamics of the Downtown by <br />enhancing activity within the Artists Village. Because of these <br />successes, staff has been placed in a position between past history and <br />future trend. <br /> <br />At the heart of the issue is the proposed proj ect and its ability to <br />provide another piece of the puzzle. The issue relates to whether or <br />not the martini bar will contribute to the continued success within the <br />Artists Village or result in a step back in time when bars proliferated <br />the downtown area and were the cause of police related issues. <br /> <br />31A-3 <br /> <br />