Included within the Grand Avenue redevelopment plan is indication of the architectural style and illustrative examples of the architectural concepts which shall serve to guide the design of all buildings within the Fareway PUD. All buildings in the PUD shall reinforce the concept depicted in the Grand Avenue redevelopment plan. Specific architecture for all buildings shall be evaluated as part of the site plan review and approval process.
All buildings within the Fareway PUD shall accommodate the following in building design:
A. Form And Scale: Buildings should reinforce the aesthetic concept as depicted by the precedent images in exhibit D on file in the city. Buildings shall be designed to relate specifically to the pedestrian in scale and variety. The following techniques should be used to meet this objective:
1. Corporate architecture shall be prohibited except as permissible by the Grand Avenue redevelopment plan in that it reinforces the iconic imagery desired for the Val-Gate district.
2. Buildings shall be organized to create a logical balance and relationship with the site, open spaces and circulation.
3. Efforts shall be made to locate the buildings close to the street with off street parking behind or to the side of the building.
4. The building's design should meet context and site objectives such as providing gateways, creating linkages and framing or terminating views.
5. Variation in building height, mass and roof forms shall be provided while still maintaining an overall building continuity.
6. Shifts in building planes/facades and variation in exterior materials shall be incorporated to minimize long expanses of wall.
7. Variation in materials, material modules, expressed joints, textures, colors and details should be used to break up the mass of the buildings.
8. Variation in horizontal planes through the use of materials, color and projecting forms should be implemented to signify an entry and/or protect the pedestrian.
9. Ground floor retail areas should provide the maximum possible glazing toward sidewalks to provide pedestrians with visual interest.
10. A building's roof form and related details/materials are an integral part of the architectural design aesthetic. Roofs should not be designed as attention getting devices related to the reinforcement of signage or as an identifiable corporate image unless said identification is in keeping with the Grand Avenue redevelopment plan aesthetic.
B. Material Quality And Detail: All sides to each building are to receive high quality materials and finishes (360 degree architectural treatment). There are no "backs" to a building. Materials should be durable, economically maintained and of a quality that will maintain their appearance over a prolonged time.
1. Primary building materials should include, but are not limited to, glass, steel, architectural concrete, natural wood, stone, brick and architectural metals.
2. The following materials shall not be used for cladding unless specifically approved by the city of West Des Moines as part of the architectural elevations:
a. EIFS or synthetic stucco.
b. Concrete masonry units.
c. Tilt-up precast concrete systems that are structural in appearance.
d. Materials that are intended for interior use.
3. Changes in materials should occur at either inside corners or where a detail is drawn to specifically accommodate a transition. Stone and brick materials should wrap corners several feet in order to provide authenticity to the materials. (Ord. 2026, 4-21-2014)