The Historic Architectural Review Board on Jan. 16 approved site changes at 88 Marine Street (St. Francis Barracks), including replacement pavers, new exterior lighting and a refacing of a low sign planter, subject to conditions intended to protect the streetscape and minimize light spill.

Staff described the proposal as multiple coordinated site changes across the U.S. government–owned St. Francis Barracks property, including new lampposts that "are to match the existing lampposts that are currently used on Charlotte Street" and a proposal to reface the low sign planter with coquina to better match the adjacent coquina wall. The staff report noted that the most visually impactful change would be repaving of the walkway and loggia along the east side of the barracks and recommended clay brick pavers appropriate in size and pattern to match historic brick.

On lighting, staff said the Architectural Guidelines recommend soft-white lighting and advised that LED fixtures be within a warm range; the board adopted a motion requiring photometric plans for staff review and specifying LED color temperature between 2,800 and 3,000 kelvin. Staff also asked for elevation drawings showing the low coquina wall and columns around the sign and recommended city standards for brick paver type and pattern be used.

Board members expressed overall support for the concept and asked that final details (lighting photometrics, sign-wall elevations and brick choice/pattern) be handled by staff. The motion to approve carried by roll call.

Why it matters: the St. Francis Barracks and adjacent streetscapes are visually prominent in the historic district; the board’s conditions aim to preserve nighttime character and ensure new pavement and wall materials are sized and detailed to be compatible with historic fabric.

Vote: Brad Beach — yes; Catherine Duncan — yes; Linda Potter — yes; Paul Weaver — yes; Erin McDonald — yes.