A third design review board meeting for the 91-unit apartment complex to be built at 5020 California Ave. S.W. went smoothly last week as representatives from Hewitt Architects explained what the community can expect as far as the look of the structure.

Designers seemed to put thoughtful consideration into the front view of the building as well. Along California Avenue the complex, called Spring Hill, will include 4,000 square feet of retail space at the street level and loft units one floor up that could be used for office or living space.

Architects plan to keep five existing trees in front of the building surrounded by large green plots and significant vegetation.

To minimize the impact of new residents moving into the neighborhood, parking for 95 vehicles is included within the structure along with garbage and all other utilities.

Green space and vegetation have been included in much of the building's design. Hewitt has arranged the building in an L-shape leaving an open green space in the northeast corner of the property where a courtyard is planned.

They have also included hedges along the south side of the building and plan to fill a three-foot gap between the new structure and an existing apartment building on the north side with local plants.

While the six-story structure may still tower over the 28-unit apartment building next door and single-family residents behind it, it has been designed to aesthetically minimize its mass, according to Hewitt.

At previous design review meetings community members had requested that the mass of the building be concentrated toward the west side along California Avenue. In response, the most recent design featured a softer fa