80A - JT PUBLIC HRG-320 WEST FOURTH

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Aesthetic Impact Evaluation West End Lofts Project 320 West Fourth Street Santa Ana, California Building form The proposed project is to be built on an empty site within a historic district. The building design is a six story structure that fronts the sidewalk, rising directly from the north property line. The building would occupy most of the site, with a setback area along the front eastern side creating an outdoor court in order to allow views to a portion of the painted wall advertisements. Considerations of compatibility with the historic district have been discussed separately. Aesthetic compatibility is evaluated in terms of scale, massing and style. The proposed project, while six stories tall, follows a pattern already established in the area of a mix of taller four to six story buildings along with one and two story buildings. The proposed project would continue this pattern along the south side of the 300 block of West Fourth Street. The building's primary fat;:ade is divided into three bays with an opening into the setback on the eastern edge adjacent to the painted advertisements. Each floor is delineated with a line of spandrel stone up to the top of the third floor, a level that approximately matches the tops of the two adjacent buildings. The architectural composition of smaller bays and articulation of floors help relate the buildings to the overall scale of the neighborhood and especially to the pedestrian level view at the street. The proposed building design is not strongly stylized. The front facade is a relatively simple pattern and is low-key and neutral in appearance without mimicking any specific historic style but in part echoing the pilaster divisions on the West End Theater facade. The long solid side party- walls are neutral. The project's fat;:ade is to be finished in sandstone, a quality masonry building material. The ground floor level is designed for shops or gallery space with large glazed openings and doorways at the walk matching the general pattern of commercial storefronts in the district. The ground floor will also have canopies to create s sidewalk level view that is a continuation of the existing streetscape. The proposed project will fit into the existing pattern and aesthetic of the area and completion of the project will add to the continuity the streetscape. View Corridors There are no specific vistas, scenic outlooks or designated views of landmark or significant aesthetic elements from the area surrounding the site. Additionally, "party-wall" construction of nearby buildings and main Kaplan Chen Kaplan 2 80A-61 December 26, 2006