Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
A businessman who wants to put an outdoors restaurant on the rooftop of one of downtown’s historic buildings encountered headwinds last week from city officials reluctant to approve the project absent the blessing of the Monticello Historic Design Review Board (HDRB).
James Hoenstine, owner of the Rev Café, is also the new owner of the building at 101 North Cherry Street, once known as the Simmons Drug Store, whose construction reportedly dates from 1863. Because of the building’s historical nature and being in the historic district, any changes or renovations to the structure require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the HDRB.
Unable to get all the necessary information from the applicant to make a decision after two reviews of the proposal, however, the HDRB bumped the application up to the Monticello City Council for a decision.
As Hoenstine explained it to the council on Tuesday evening, Dec. 7, his idea is to construct a solar room atop the building so that patrons can enjoy a view of the town as they dine.
The rooftop area, Hoenstine said, is one that the bank, which formerly owned the building, utilized for outdoor patio events. His idea, he said, entails enclosing the area with a roofed structure containing a series of sliding screened windows that can be removed if need be.
The modification, Hoenstine said, would accomplish two goals: It would provide space for outdoor dining with a view of the downtown and it would stop the leaking problems that have perennially plagued the building.
“It’s been a never-ending problem,” Hoenstine said of the leaking. “I’d like to eliminate it and make it all windows that can slide open. This will be a plus for the city. People will come to it.”
The contractor accompanying Hoenstine called the proposed structure a version of a green building product, comparable to what currently exists at the Rev Café.