February 3, 2003

Galveston Landmark Commission

The Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment voted to extend the date to begin construction on Shlomo Hamo's new building at 2401 Strand to April, with completion within two years.  The project had previously been delayed until after the Dickens on the Strand festival and Mardi Gras 2003.

The vote was unanimous, but there were some concerns expressed by members of the board.

"Why two years," asked Judith Price.

"It's brand new and its a big building, too," explained Hamo. "We have to meet the flood elevation."

He said the one story building will resemble the Tremont House.  "It's a very unique building; it's like historic looking."

The board voted to defer action on a request for a certificate of appropriateness for alterations to a building at 2006 - 2008 Avenue M 1/2 until the February 17 meeting.

John Carrara of The Goodman Corporation and Galveston Transportation Director Wayne Cook reviewed plans by the Livable Communities Steering Committee to construct a transportation terminal on the parking lot at the northeast corner of the Strand at 25th Street.

ZBA Chair Bob Brown cautioned that the design of the facility should not give a false sense of history.

"We can't tell you what the building should look like, but we can review your proposals," Brown said.

Arthur Campos urged the committee to design the building as "good quality urban architecture."

Jane Chapin asked that ingress and egress to the building be designed to avoid causing bus traffic on the Strand.  

The committee also discussed goals and objectives of the ZBA and several other issues following the action agenda.

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