A plan to build a row of similar-looking homes in Windansea received sharp criticism from the La Jolla Development Permit Review committee Feb 13 and will return for further review.
The project proposed for 338-346 Gravilla St. would demolish the existing structures and construct five new two-story, 2,058-square foot units, each with an accessory dwelling unit and roof deck on five separate parcels.
Trustees took issue with the lack of differentiation among the homes.
“Did you consider combining them into one lot … with a more interesting layout?” asked DPR trustee Diane Kane. “Because that [design] is brutal.”
“The owner wanted individuality … for single family owners,” said architect and applicant representative Scot Frontis.
The characterization of the block of units as having individuality struck trustee Greg Jackson as “interesting… because from the picture that’s not [clear].”
Jackson encouraged Frontis to aim for “facade differentiation,” as the current “cookie cutter [design] goes in the opposite direction” of the community’s desire for variation.
“It’s not favorably looked upon” by locals, Kane said. “We don’t want it.”
“What’s [already] there is so charming, DPR trustee John Fremdling said.
“It’s an unfortunate loss,” Jackson said. “I just wish this project were much more creative about its contribution to the community.”
DPR Chair Brian Will asked Frontis to “consider coming back with some different subject differentiation more than materiality.”
“I can definitely take a look at it and see what I can do … do overall,” Frontis said.
