The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Marous to develop apartment building
Two designs have been presented to city for site of construction company’s former headquarters
At the corner of Second Street and Clark Avenue in downtown Willoughby, Marous Brothers Construction is seeking to build a 38-unit, three-story apartment building, which may be called Marous Place.
This location was the site of Marous’ first headquarters building, which is being demolished.
The company incorporated elements of the surrounding properties into two designs under consideration, according to Jeff Foster of Marous Development Group.
“There is no real irreplaceable historic value of the current building,” Foster said.
The parcel to be occupied includes a parking lot to the rear, which will encompass part of the new building and parking.
The two designs were presented to the Willoughby Design Review Board in October and November.
The project then received input from the public during a recent city council meeting.
The first design has some fluctuation with the facade, which, to Marous, is an important scale transition, Foster said. Smaller decks and patios to soften the building edge would be used.
The parking will be oriented to the center of the site with one curb cut. There will be 38 units and 38 parking spaces, and the main entrance would be in the rear of the building.
Additionally, in the first design, there would be a 50-50 mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments. Brownish brick for the building, as well as large windows to add a modern twist, would be utilized. Wood grain would also be incorporated.
A mix of black and white windows would be implemented. The interior of the site would have metal, both smooth and corrugated panels. The corrugated metal would sit on top of a brick base. The balconies would be metal.
The second design is more traditional, Foster said. Although similar to the first, it would be without the balconies. Some fluctuation on the street edge would still be maintained, which is important in terms of scale and how the building is perceived at the street line.
The second design also would have a few more one-bedroom units by removing the balconies, and a more earthy brick, as well as cast stone stills, would be utilized in a different way with metal detail.
Design Review Board Chairman John Perkovich appreciated both schemes, the detail and how Marous arrived at both renderings that were presented. The second scheme is more in keeping with the street scape but needs a few minor adjustments as far as detailing, Perkovich said.
“The corner is lacking in some detail,” said Perkovich, who suggested raising that section up above the other cornice line and maybe adding a cornice.
If Marous chooses the second scheme, Perkovich questioned if the balconies would still work. According to Adelbert “Chip” Marous, the balconies were eliminated because they felt they wouldn’t work.
After seeing the first design and then the second, board member Adam Brown said Marous blended a good mix of modern and traditional. He said he agrees with Perkovich with the corner needing some detailing and possibly some metal element.
He, too, prefers the second scheme.
Marous said they may put the signage for the building on the left wall. Perkovich suggested adding a rectangular box on both of the corners and would lessen the fact that the left side is just masonry.
Board member Paul Garcia also agreed in regard to the corner and prefers the second scheme.
After tabling the application pending additional information for resubmission for redesign options, changes were made. A cornice was added to the top of the west wall, and is in scale with the eyebrow elements that wrap the windows, Foster said.
Another item that was discussed was the signage. Foster said the name Marous Place may be changed. Marous has integrated 12-inch-high, solid-face letters into a sign board on the corner of the building and would be halo-lit. Additionally, some of the detailing that is on the rest of the building was integrated.
Brown moved to approve the application for the new building, alongside Henrich, Garcia and Dan Volpe. Perkovich appreciated the added elements but said he still feels that the corner seems weak. While he appreciates the elements added to the signage, Perkovich feels that the west face has not been addressed.
The second design also would have a few more onebedroom units by removing the balconies, and a more earthy brick, as well as cast stone stills, would be utilized in a different way with metal detail.