The proposed Riverside Commercial Development along Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn moved closer to final approval Monday, but the design of a grocery store and pharmacy won't be approved until project architects and City Office of Economic Development's Downtown Development Review Board members hold a design workshop.
The proposed 53,700-square-foot retail center is bounded by Riverside Avenue on the south, Magnolia Street on the north, Leila Street on the east and Jackson Street on the west.
Atlanta-based Fuqua Development LP plans to develop the retail center north of the 220 Riverside project under construction.
The board did approve a zoning variance to allow drive-thru lanes for the pharmacy building; setback and build-to lines to allow for a surface parking lot and loading dock; and a transparency variance to allow less glass in the design than is mandated by Downtown design criteria.
The architecture of the structures in the project raised questions among board members.
Board member Roland Udenze, an architect at The Haskell Co., said the design for the pharmacy "looks like the beach" as opposed to an urban design.
Board member Chris Flagg, a landscape architect, said the design for the project has a "fragmented, disjointed feel" and the architecture presented Monday "shows the weakness of the site plan."
Architect Tim Miller, chair of the design board, said he preferred the designs previously presented for the project.
"Architecturally, I think you've taken a couple of steps back," he said.
Flagg said he'd like to see designs more similar to those of the 220 Riverside development.
"They are really pushing the envelope architecturally," he said.
"You're building a destination here. Tenants will accept different exterior designs," Udenze said.
"Urban is edgier. In the suburbs, you stucco everything," he said.
J.J. Conners, president of Jacksonville-based Chestnut Hill Investments, represents Fuqua and said the design elements of the project are a cost issue.
"A more expensive design increases the development cost and raises the rent for the tenants," he said.
Miller compared the Brooklyn project to Sawgrass Village in terms of prospective tenants accepting exterior design requirements as long as they could maintain the desired interior floor plan.
Conner said the two projects cannot be compared in that way.
"You probably had tenants fighting over the Sawgrass Village location. We're holding their hand and dragging them to this location," he said.
The design workshop for the project is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday at City Hall.
In other business, the board granted final approval for a 5,100-square-foot retail development at 841 Prudential Drive adjacent to the Aetna Building parking garage. Southshore Group, the property owner, expects three tenants in the retail center, including Dunkin' Donuts.
Also approved were new signs for the Florida Blue Building along Riverside Avenue near Interstate 95. The six existing Blue Cross Blue Shield building identification signs will be replaced with Florida Blue logo signage, reflecting the rebranding of the company.
The board's next meeting is scheduled at 2 p.m. July 11 in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall.
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