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The Lexington Architectural Review Board approved the proposed plans for the Courthouse Square project in a 3-0 vote at its meeting last Thursday.
Arthur Bartenstein, who serves as chair of the ARB, recused himself to give the presentation to the Board as one of the designers of the proposed project. He showed the Board the overall plans for the changes to the square as well as specific details about what the benches, trees, and lighting would look like, to show that all matched with the look of the downtown historic district.
The Board also heard public comments about the proposed project. Mary Ellen Cook, who lives on East Washington Street, raised some concerns with the plans and the project as a whole. She wondered about the cost of the project and how much money the city of Lexington is putting toward the project.
“I’d like to know, just as a city of Lexington taxpayer, how much am I contributing toward a project that I really find to be not one of my top priorities within the city,” she said. “If there’s a lot of city money being put toward this project, I would like to see it put toward another project.”
City planner Arne Glaeser pointed out that financial aspects of the project were not within the purview of the ARB and that the City Council would be better suited to answer those questions. The majority of the funding for the project, which is projected to cost $1 million, is expected to come from a Virginia 250 Preservation Fund Grant through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and an announcement on whether the grant was awarded is expected this month. Jesse Lyons, who is heading the project, explained to Cook that the city has already budgeted some money for this project and that no additional funds have been requested at this time.
Cook also expressed concern about handicap accessibility with the proposed tiered steps, saying that the slope of the square was more accessible than the proposed steps would be. Glaeser explained that there is a handicap ramp proposed on the far side of the square opposite the courthouse, showing her on the plans where it would be.
Cook also raised an objection to moving the veterans’ memorial and excavating part of the land in front of the courthouse. Lyons and Bartenstein explained that the goal of moving the memorial was to open up the square and that the VFW had been consulted about the move and is in favor of it.
Barbara Crawford moved to approve the plans and Charlie Hall provided the second.
