Title
HLC#20-009: Public hearing to consider a request for a new mural on the side of the McKnight Building at 102 N. Main Street; Methodist Mansfield Hospital, applicant, and City of Mansfield, applicant/owner
Comments and Considerations
As part of a community arts program, Methodist Mansfield Hospital requests approval to paint a new mural on the wall of the McKnight Building facing E. Broad Street. The theme of the mural is based on "Then to Now", showing the transformation of historic Mansfield into modern Mansfield from one side of Main Street to the other with a mother holding a baby in the middle.
Murals painted on landmark buildings are not addressed in the Design Guidelines for Downtown Mansfield. After research, Staff developed guidelines for the Commission to refer to when considering murals on historic buildings. The full guidelines are attached to the end of the staff report. The following are specific guidelines applicable to this project with Staff’s comments following each item:
1. Do not paint on unpainted masonry.
• It takes away the historic integrity.
• It can trap water and damage the brick
The brick on the McKnight Building has already been painted. The addition of the mural should not cause any further damage than the existing paint.
2. A new mural should not compromise the historic character or integrity of the original resource.
The proposed mural should not cover or hide any architectural features of the building. The exhibit shows the mural covering the first window on the side wall.
The exhibit does not appear to be to scale and the mural may be painted below the window.
3. New murals should respect the size, scale and design of the historic building. They should be located on the side, interior or rear walls of existing commercial buildings, and have minimal impact on surrounding buildings, views and vistas.
The new mural will be located on the side of the building facing E. Broad Street. As shown on the exhibits, it wi...
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