From: 	ISNA <info@indiastreet.org>
To:	Helen Donaldson <HCD@portlandmaine.gov>
Date: 	8/13/2013 6:57 AM
Subject: 	Re: Bay House Phase II plans

Nell:

My design comments are esthetic more than anything else. If the comp plan, now underway, for the India Street Neighborhood were completed, I would expect to have a form based code which would not allow such a long wall with no permeability, fenestration nor variation in depth. The proposal looks mundane and not in keeping even with Phase 1. But that is all beyond the requirements of B2‑b.

We would all like to see more detail of finishes and color ‑‑ but that is also design review that is esthetic. 

As you know, the Phase 1 land was a swamp and the Phase 2, along with Federal St is the product of cut and fill. Like the Marina section of San Francisco, such land (over marine clay and filled with sand) are very subject to seismic disturbances. There was a great deal of shaking and things moving about with the construction of Phase 1 and we would hope that Phase 2, being nearer the buildings on Federal, would be done with less disruption.

We would also like to see where the base points for establishing building height are located. There is extreme variation in the land and the base height should be representative of the average mass of the building. We would also like to see any construction above 45 feet held to a minimum. We understand that "building height" is measured at the top of the highest roof beam. This is fine for the pitched roof houses in old neighborhoods but meaningless when all sorts of things may be added to top on flat buildings. All of the buildings north of Phase 2 (whether flat roofed or pitched) are 45 feet or less. Their light is already diminished by Phase 1 and will be more reduced by the height of Phase 2.

The last thought has to do with the proposed treatment of the parking area. The north‑most part is raised above the rest in a steep rise. We are interested in how the area is to be leveled and to what height. The concern is due to the retaining walls on two sides of the raised part of the parking area.

Thanks again for your help in all ways.

         _____Hugh

ISNA
info@indiastreet.org