3 - WORK STUDY_114 AND 117 EAST FIFTH STREET_COMMENT

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Hazmat remediation issue: Mike McCann said he did not want to spend $20,000 for Hazmat investigation before Toll Brothers takes possession of the building, and until he was certain that the project had been approved and was going ahead. Alison Young pointed out that the hazmat survey/remediation would need to be conducted in order to perform the demolition, regardless of whether or not the facade was preserved. Robert Imboden suggested that Toll Bros. discuss the issue with an architectural firm that specializes in historic preservation, as they will have experience conducting such limited demolition work. He felt that there may be an opportunity to perform the limited demolition without conducting a comprehensive hazardous material investigation and full remediation of the entire property to simply remove some of the exterior cladding panels. Role of First American Title Co.: When Tim Rush suggested that Toll Brothers ask First American to agree to the investigation of the structure beneath the screen, Mike McCann suggested that First American may not do so, as they are not necessarily motived to sell the property. There was a discussion about the nature of First American’s ongoing role and involvement in the process, beyond that of being the seller. Possibility of incorporating historic facades in new structure: Mike McCann discussed the idea of incorporating the 1931 structure within the new development, and commented that there would be many implications to be considered, such as the configuration of underground parking, utilities, and the stacking of the upper floors. Mike McCann also expressed that the location of the 1931 façade made it unsuitable for incorporation into the proposed development, as Toll Brothers would like the corner of Main and Fifth to be used as the leasing office. He also expressed concern that the City’s many departments each had requirements that would be complicated to renegotiate if the project was to be redesigned to accommodate the historic structure. Robert Imboden questioned why the historic façade would necessarily be unsuitable for the leasing office. He suggested that Toll Bros. look into the 417 Metro Building (Subway Terminal Building - downtown Los Angeles), and how the historic lobby was very successfully adapted for use as a leasing office for that mixed-use project. Robert Imboden noted that POC had reviewed work by Mclarand Vasquez Emsiek (project architects) that incorporated a historic facade into a new high-rise structure (“Griffin on Spring Street” project in Los Angeles); this could be a suitable model for this project as well. He went on to clarify that POC could most likely support a project with floors built above the 1931 structure, if they were minimally set back to provide distinction of the historic façade. Again, he expressed that a firm which specializes in historic preservation could provide direction toward preserving the façade, while also achieving as much of the project program as possible. Replicating historic facade?