Design for Beaufort garage needs help

Currently there is a proposal in front of the Historic Review Board for the construction of a large parking garage in the center of Beaufort’s historic downtown.

This would be one of the tallest, if not the tallest, building in town.

This would be the largest building in town, covering just under one acre per floor.

This is being proposed by a private entity. It is not a public garage.

Much more community input is necessary before the Historic Review Board grants its final approval.

To date, the building has been met with universal condemnation of its design. The community has the right to ensure that it will be a net benefit and not a visual and economic detriment to the downtown.

So, the simple question is how we can improve upon this.

The design of the garage should reflect the historical architectural patterns common to Beaufort. To date, the proposed attempts at both a modern architectural vocabulary and the multiple “townhouse” design fail miserably.

If the structure resembled two or three historic “warehouse style” buildings, the massing of the garage can be significantly reduced.

The first floor should incorporate “liner units” so as to engage the public realm, not degrade it. When one allows the car to be prioritized over the pedestrian, the economic well-being of the community is significantly degraded.

I would propose that all parties work together to improve upon the design of the building. A great deal of work needs to be completed before it is too late.

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 7:24 AM with the headline "Design for Beaufort garage needs help."