No ZBA decision yet on Armory; case continued to October 17 meeting

[ron_newman]

The Zoning Board of Appeals did not make any decision about the Armory at tonight's meeting, because a new planning staff report substantially changed the recommendations. There will probably be more public neighborhood meetings before the ZBA takes up the issue again at their meeting on October 17 at 6 pm. It will be the first item on their agenda at that meeting, which will most likely be held at City Hall.

At last night's meeting, the ZBA also distributed a one-page summary of the new staff report, which may be easier for most people to read.

A number of new provisions are intended to ensure that approval of extended hours and amplified music applies only to the current tenant (Arts at the Armory) and cannot be transferred to any future tenant. This is intended to allay neighborhood fears that the venue could become a nightclub in the future, under different management or ownership.

Comments

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

thanks for a link to the documents.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

I don’t know much about the organization; the interim ED might well be doing a great job keeping the org afloat in crisis. But I’d like to see more donor outreach if I were to expect the organization to survive. With only two non-executive board members and no development staff, that does not appear to be a current strategic priority.

Indeed, perhaps the supporters of the Arts at the Armory here might consider donating to the non-profit. I took a quick look at the 990 and it appears there was only $11k of contributed income in 2010, which strikes me as surprisingly low. Donor support (number of donors as much as $ raised) is seen by some funders as a proxy for community support (though, to be clear, it’s unlikely the ZBA would consider it one way or the other).

[ron_newman]

Most of their fundraising that I've been aware of is from ticketed events.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Again maybe the details are out there but a.) what is the city approved capacity for the armory building? b.) Was the building not soundproofed / outfitted for sound when it was initially renovated for musical events and such for use in its projected use?

[ron_newman]

From the linked document:

"The auditorium is 4,682 sf and the mezzanine is 1,650sf. The State Building Code limits occupancy to
one person per 7 sf when non-fixed chairs are set-up and one person per 15 sf when tables and chairs are
set-up. The regulation limits the Armory’s occupancy to 422 to 904 depending on the set-up of the space.
The proposed occupancies of 395 for “other events” and 495 for “at capacity events” continue to be
within the building code occupancy limit, although, “at capacity” events with tables and chairs will be
limited to 422 due to the code."

I don't know the answer to your question about soundproofing. They did some work before the place opened, but it appears that more needs to be done. Some noise problems seem to be the result of doors and windows being left open during events, when they are supposed to always be closed.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Ty

[ron_newman]

? I do not know who that is.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

I believe they meant "thank you". (Damn kids today and their internet abbreivations! ;-)