HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Provide direction regarding the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for 105 S Wright St. - HPC-0003-2026
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Isaac Marlott, Assistant Planner
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Submitted for Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Review
BACKGROUND:
The Subject Property is an approximately 5400 square foot parcel generally located at the southwest corner of the Van Buren Av and Wright St intersection, with a common street address of 105 S Ellsworth Street. The property is zoned R2 (Single-family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District) and is currently improved with a 2-story Vernacular home in the L-Form style. The 2008 Architectural and Historic Survey (attached) (“Survey”) notes previous historic alterations including an alteration of the roofline on the north end of the house, addition of an inset porch (later enclosed) and the addition of an east facing dormer. The survey also notes a previous one-story addition and north entry addition, both non-historic.
The Historic Building Design and Resource Manual (HBDRM) provides the typical attributes of Vernacular style buildings on page 26 of the manual. The principal structure is listed as "contributing" to the Local Historic District and in "good" condition in the Survey; this survey also includes details regarding prior alterations and significant features of the structure.
Prior COA Approvals
* None
DISCUSSION:
The applicants and property owners, Lynn and Mark Dowd, will be seeking HPC approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to replace the historic wood siding on the front façade with a limestone material. The applicant has not yet worked with a design professional to provide full architectural plans and is kindly requesting the commission offer a cursory review of the proposal. If the commission is generally supportive of the proposed material change, the applicants will return to the HPC with detailed drawings for formal COA review and approval at a future date.
Work Requiring COA Approval
Façade:
- The scope of work includes replacing the existing historic wood siding on the front façade only with limestone. A physical sample of the proposed material will be presented by the applicant at the Historic Preservation Commission meeting. According to the Architectural and Historic Survey (2008), the original material of the exterior walls is wood/wood- shingle. Pursuant to Section 6-11-8:1.1.3 a change of the primary façade material from wood (original) to stone (not-specified) requires the review and approval of the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Pages 32-37 of the HBDRM provides guidelines for wood siding maintenance, repair and replacement. The use of replacement materials to conceal or remove original wood siding is generally discouraged.
- The applicant has provided supplemental imagery from surrounding properties featuring stone materials to demonstrate their belief that the proposal is in harmony with the character of the wider Historic District. The applicant also notes the poor condition of the existing wood siding as justification for the proposed improvements.
Additional Minor Work Proposed
N/A
Factors for Consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness Application: Review of COA applications are conducted based on the compatibility with the Factors for Consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness Application (Section 6-11-8:5; Certificate of Appropriateness Required). The owner has detailed their justification of the factors considered which is included in the attachments for review by the HPC.