The Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed a proposal to expand Lutheran Tower at its Dec. 9 meeting.
The existing 15-story Lutheran Tower, at the southeast corner of Juniper and 4th streets, would expand eastward toward Piedmont Avenue, according to a recap of the meeting from Midtown Alliance.
The design includes 172 new senior living units arranged in two offset wings that frame a raised central amenity terrace.
The approximately 92,900-square-foot expansion will step down in height from eight to five stories as it approaches 730 Piedmont Ave., a long-standing residence that will be adaptively reused. The existing two-story parking deck, accessible from 4th Street, will be expanded from 66 spaces to 102 spaces and will receive façade improvements. Back-of-house service areas will be upgraded while maintaining access via the lower-level entrance along 4th.
The committee raised several concerns, including: ensuring all architectural plans are cohesive and unified; preserving the visual character of the residence along Piedmont Avenue; improving the streetscape, building facades, and pedestrian access along 4th, reconfiguring the existing driveway on Juniper, and providing a green buffer southward. Detailed recommendations are detailed below: