The commissioners were not willing to approve the redesign of Patterson’s frontage as the business owners submitted. In addition to lacking details on window dimensions, the commission felt the design was too modern and did not reflect the requirements of the New Ulm downtown historic district.

“This is a very modern stylization,” Commission member Kara Carlson said. She believed the unfortunate accident that made this renovation necessary could help return the historic building to its original design.

Patterson’s Diamond Center is planning a reconstruction of the front exterior following a minor vehicle accident. A car collided with the front of the building, damaging the brickwork on the arches. In light of the damage, the owners want to update the front of the building. The new design would update the current 1970s facade into a modern design.

The new design would remove the bricks from the building’s face and fill in the area will a stucco material.

Patterson’s Diamond Center proposed a modern update to it’s building exterior (shown above),

The current windows would be replaced with three tall windows. The exact dimensions of the windows were not provided to the HPC, but it was estimated the windows would start six inches off the sidewalk and would each be three feet wide.

HPC objected to the new design as the building was historic and located in a historic district. Patterson’s design consultant indicated that Patterson was unaware the building was subject to historic district regulation.

The commission had already created an alternative redesign for the building a few years ago. The alternative design would bring the building’s facade back to its original 1907 appearance.

Commission Chairwoman Deb Zahn said the 1907 style mock-up was preferable to the modern design proposed by Patterson.

Commissioner David Christian said as submitted he would vote no on the modern design proposed by Patterson’s. Based on the design submitted, he was uncertain as to the size of the windows being proposed or the final design of the door. The building would likely need to retain its current sunk-in entrance, but the current design did not show this feature.

The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) had an alternative design created for the Patterson’s Diamond Center, below, that would return the building to its 1907 appearance.

Christian believed the design presented to the commission was based on the design of the Patterson’s store in Mankato.

The commission was willing to work with Patterson’s on an alternative design, including holding a special HPC meeting to let the business know what the commission expected in terms of meeting historic district design.

“We care very much that business thrive but we also care about the historic district,” Carlson said. She moved to table the decision until the commission could provide Patterson’s with the historic district requirements.

The decision to table was unanimously approved.