The ARFRR Blog: The Heights Hotel Part V - What is Wrong with this Picture?

A small hotel seems to be just the kind of development that Arlington needs, and a good restaurant would be a welcome addition to the Heights neighborhood. But the designers continue to struggle with fitting a 50 room hotel on two undersized parcels (one of which is still owned by the town) and complying with significant zoning requirements intended to protect the rest of the neighborhood, particularly the abutters on Clark and Peirce St.
Responsible redevelopment respects the rights of the adjacent homeowners.

The second hearing for the Hotel Lexington was held on Monday, January 27. There was a good turnout of residents to observe and offer their views.
You can watch the entire hearing here or just the public comments.

After a six month wait, we saw what the architects have been working on.
-New materials for the facade.
-A small circular driveway in front.
-A shrunken parking lot in the rear that will be valet only.
Still missing is the topographical survey that should have been provided on Day One.

The architects have also provided renderings of what the hotel will look like from Mass Ave, on the block between Lowell and Appleton.

Architect's Rendering of what Hotel should look like

It seems to fit well into the neighborhood, almost unobtrusive.
But is it real?

What is wrong with this picture?
Hint - count the utility poles. Start with Pole A in front of Nicola's. The hotel starts at around Pole B, the corner of Clark St. The circular driveway and canopy should be between Poles C and D. Pole D, directly in front of the DAV building at 1207 Mass Ave, marks the far end of the proposed hotel. And the hotel is taller than those 40' utility poles.

It is clear that the architects have provided a visualization that is grossly inaccurate, showing an undersized building that occupies only a fraction of the total footprint. At the next hearing, March 16, they will have a lot of explaining to do.