The Guthrie City Council overwhelming showed their support for a reconstruction plan of the lower primary front façade for two buildings on Oklahoma Ave. for a proposed bar and grill. The decision overrides a decision by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).
As part of the motion by Councilman Don Channel, and second by Councilman Brian Bothroyd, the council agreed with a 7-0 vote to overturn HPC’s decision, accept the recommendations of the project and that the applicant, Town & Country Investments, works with City staff on the design of the retractable garage doors.
The 7-0 vote joined a vast majority of citizens who wanted to see the project to move forward.
“I am extremely happy for the buildings that are getting renovated,” Coucilman Brian Bothroyd said. “I hate overturning anybody that donates their time, but we can not restrict the community, we can’t restrict the town, we can’t restrict the growth. Economic development is king and has to be in this town.”
“It’s going to be awesome when it’s done,” Bothroyd concluded with.
The proposed plan is to open a bar and grill in the corner building called Superman 38 Bar & Grill after former Oklahoma Sooner All-American Roy Williams. The buildings would be combined to be used either together or separate for restaurant overflow, but mostly used for a special event center for meetings, small receptions and Sunday brunches.
Town and Country Investments proposed to utilize the two existing buildings for one use at 202 and 204 E. Oklahoma Ave. The project allows new awnings on the Oklahoma Ave. facades as well as the side street façade (Wentz St.). All upper-level windows on the front façade and side street facade will be replaced. The windows are aluminum clad wood windows. The existing doors on the side street will be replaced with new doors. The façades will have new colors, but no existing brick area will be painted. Related article: Council to decide on reconstruction of downtown buildings for proposed bar and grill
HPC voted 3-3 during their Aug. 2 meeting to deny the request. The main concern from the HPC was the retractable door facing Oklahoma Ave.
HPC member Valerie Duncan said, “There is a historical precedent, perhaps that faces Wentz, but there isn’t on Oklahoma. It’s such a drastic change to the store front. I just don’t think it fits with the Victorian feel that downtown has always gone for.”
City Planner Dan Kassik stated the existing storefronts are not historic nor original to the buildings.
“The area to be reconstructed on each building has been manipulated over the years,” Kassik said. “The applicant has tried to get photo evidence to help substantiate design, but the photos obtained did not have any clear historical design context.”
Councilman James Long, who serves on the HPC board for the city council but does not cast any votes, was not pleased with the decision of the commission.
“I think HPC has lost their way. They need to be rein in, quite personally, in what their responsibility to the City of Guthrie is in our historic district,” Councilman James Long said during council comments.
A construction start and end date was not immediately known for the building project.
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