Design Commission Defers Voting on New MorningStar Building’s Design Concept

The Design Commission did not vote on the concept design for the MorningStar senior living facility proposed to be built at 995 South Fair Oaks Avenue at its meeting on Tuesday.

Instead, it voted on a continuance to give the applicant time to address some of the concerns raised by commissioners regarding the project’s design.

“The biggest concern that I have was regarding materiality and the large amount of stucco that we’re seeing on so many new buildings, especially residential,” said Commission Chair Yolanda Sepulveda.

Commissioner Timothy Sales also expressed his concern regarding the use of fencing for the project. “I think that fencing tends to not be very helpful for these things. Try to minimize fencing along Arlington and along Fair Oaks especially.”

The project involves the demolition of a non-historic office and warehouse building and the construction of a new five-story independent senior living facility containing 76 residential units and one level of subterranean parking, encompassing a total of approximately 89,600 square feet.
Though 44 on-site trees are proposed to be removed for the construction, none of these trees is protected by size or species.
The proposed building is designed in a contemporary style with a logical rhythm of fac?ade patterning of windows, doors, balconies, and canopies.

The project is the third phase of a larger project; Phase I, located along South Fair Oaks Avenue, is an 87,000 square foot building that was built in 2003 and Phase II, located along Hurlbut Street, is approximately 47,000 square feet in size and was built in 2008.