By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — An archway will soon be added to the entrance of Hogan’s Alley.

Paula Bohland, director of Downtown Salisbury Inc., and Josh Canup, an architect and urban designer, went before the Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday to get its approval on the design, fabrication and installation of an archway leading into Hogan’s Alley.

According to meeting documents, the project includes site preparation with the appropriate footings and hold downs for the arch columns and finishing of materials including enamel paint. They will also clean the arch and site at the end of the project.

According to Catherine Garner, planner and staff liaison for the commission, the alley is public and is in the public right-of-way. It was previously closed to vehicle traffic and is only open for pedestrian traffic. Salisbury is the owner of the alley.

Canup said he wanted the design of the archway to fit in with the rest of the downtown area.

“I think this was my 27^th iteration of the design. I’ve been trying to get something to fit Salisbury — the historic, industrial look of the railroad,” he said.

Commissioner Sue McHugh asked if the archway would say Hogan’s Alley on both sides.

Canup said that it will only say it on the front because the letters are cut out of the plate with a copper backer behind the letters.

Commissioner Elizabeth Trick was concerned about the footings for the archway. She said it would need bigger footings based on the height. That would mean the legs of the archway would have to be pulled further inward and away from the buildings next to it.

“You can’t have disturbed earth next to an existing building,” she said.

Canup said he would not be disturbing the footings of the buildings.

McHugh also asked if the archway was high enough so that children would not climb on it.

Canup said that was considered. He said the lower part of the archway will be a little more than nine feet tall.

During the public hearing, Clyde, local collector and artist, complimented the project developers for using someone local to design the archway. He also questioned whether Salisbury was the owner of the alley.

Garner said it is not the commission’s concern to decide who owns the alley and they could vote independently of the question.

Commissioner Tom Wolpert, who mentioned the archway would compliment the Easy Street sign, made the motion to approve the findings of fact and issue the certificate of appropriateness.

The certificate was approved 5-1, with Trick voting against the motion.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition of the current playground equipment area, installation of new playground equipment and the addition of new stormwater drainage at First United Methodist Church.
• Approved a certificate of appropriateness for the replacement of tile on a walkway and the steps to a sidewalk with concrete for a property at 225 W. Thomas St.
• Tabled a discussion about the replacement of existing windows at 116 E. Council St. so that the applicant could do more research on true divided-light windowpanes, as required by the guidelines, and consider rehabilitating the existing windows.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.