By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Dec 14, 2016 at 4:36 PM

The former Paintball Dave's building, located at 203 N. Broadway in the Third Ward, hasn't seen much activity since the party hotspot closed its doors earlier this year after almost 30 years in business. However, this afternoon, a new proposal for the building would bring retail and residential units to the space. 

At the Historic Third Ward Architectural Review Board (ARB) meeting this afternoon, building owner Margaret Martin's initial plans for the building were presented, showing the first floor dedicated to retail space and seven new residential units – including two two-floor penthouse suites – on the above floors.

The plans also showed garage doors on the first floor in order to help activate the sidewalk, as well an added canopy for the Chicago Street sidewalk, metal balconies and fire escape stairs, the two partly glass roof-top penthouse suites and an addition to the northern side of the building. 

During the discussion of the new plans, the ARB expressed concern over several components of the proposed changes, including the penthouses' proportionality and aesthetics with the rest of the building and the area, as well as the aesthetics of the metal balconies, outdoor fire escape stairs and some of the residential windows.

Some board members noted that the plan's additions might be too much for the relatively narrow building and that, with the changes, it no longer looked like a "Third Ward building." The board also voiced concerns about the viability and functionality of the limited space allotted for resident parking. 

In the end, the board did not vote on the initial proposal, but provided feedback to the developers, asking them to amend the initial plans and present revised ones at a future date.  

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.