martinhouseclr

149 3 // EXISTING CONDITIONS walkway appears integral to the driveway curb edge, meeting at the same elevation, however the control joint scoring pattern on the walkway and the edge curb are not aligned. The walkway parallels the drive until meeting a parapet wall at the house, and turns 90-degrees to the east, continuing in a straight line to a set of steps (hidden behind a parapet wall) leading up to the house’s front porch, which is paved in a roughly 1-inch square brown colored tile pattern. The steps and porch area had minor accumulations of slush ice in February 2014 and appears to be treated with a snow-melt product. Behind the house’s porch parapet wall, nearest the porte-cochere, is a somewhat concealed accessible lift with surface materials of stainless steel and glass. The lift is not directly accessible from the concrete walkway, but can be accessed from the chip-seal driveway. The lift provides universal access to the first floor of the house by entering through the house’s former office entry. The Floricycle area lacks any formal defined circulation routes, however, a small set of concrete steps at the Floricycle’s southwestern periphery allows pedestrian circulation up the grade embankment. The steps appear to be settling slightly and marginally pulled away from the adjacent concrete foundation of the Front Raised Planter. The verandah includes a set concrete steps (integral to the house) on both the north and south sides, with direct access from the verandah to the Floricycle area of the landscape. Both sets of steps are closed off with a black vinyl-coated chain-link gate to prevent access to the verandah from the landscape. The Summit Lawn includes no defined circulation routes, however a set of steps with three risers (obscured by a masonry pier) exists at the northwestern corner of the lawn, allowing access to and from the Summit Terrace. The Summit Terrace itself contains no paved circulation routes but includes two access points to the adjacent conservatory. Combined with the steps to the Summit Lawn, these doors imply casual circulation at the northern area of the Terrace. The Barton House includes a 5-foot wide concrete walkway leading directly from the Summit Avenue sidewalk to the house’s entry steps. The walkway also includes a paved extension linking the public sidewalk to the street curb. A second walkway leading from the Summit Avenue sidewalk runs east-west along the Barton House’s northern façade. The walkway continues into the Barton rear yard, jogs to the south near the rear entry, and continues west toward the Paddock wall where it intersects with a walkway linking the adjacent parking lot with the northeast entry to the conservatory. The concrete-paved parking lot is associated with the MHRC owned property on the north side of the Barton House, and includes informal parking spaces for up to 5 vehicles. It is outside of the historic core. The nearby Paddock interior does not contain any paved surfaces and the only exterior access is via a wooden gate linking to the Barton rear yard. Several circulation features exist within the Courtyard and Porte-cochere unit. Most significantly is the driveway, extending to the garage area. The garage area also includes a small paved auto court north of the fountain wall. Fig. 149, bottom Barton House rear yard with walkways and adjacent parking lot. Fig. 148, top Concrete steps at south terminus of Floricycle area, providing access to front lawn.