HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for 205 N Wright St. - HPC-0008-2025
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Brad Iwicki, Assistant Planner
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Submitted for Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) review.
BACKGROUND:
The Subject Property is an approximately 8250 square foot parcel generally located at the northwest corner of the N Wright St. and School St. intersection, with a common street address of 205 N Wright Street. The property is zoned R2 (Single-family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District) and is currently improved with a 2-story Italianate style residence, originally constructed in 1880. The residence was improved with a north side 2-story addition that is noted as a historic alteration in the 2008 Architectural and Historic Survey (attached) (“Survey”), a non-historic 1-story rear addition and a detached garage.
The Historic Building Design and Resource Manual (HBDRM) provides the typical attributes of an Italianate style residence on page 22 of the manual. The principal structure is listed as “significant” to the Local Historic District and in “excellent” 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, Christopher and Alyse Vandiver, seek HPC approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to allow for a two-story addition to the secondary north facing façade featuring paneled metal roofing, a change in the door opening on the south façade, and a new front porch and two new window openings on the east facing primary façade. In addition, the petitioner is proposing minor work to the roof, exterior materials, and south porch; while these improvements do not require HPC approval, additional information is provided below under “Minor Work” for informational purposes. The demolition of the 1-story rear addition does not require a COA since it is not an original architectural feature and does not contribute to the style of the principal building.
Work Requiring COA Approval
Addition:
- The proposed addition is set back approximately 45 feet 1 inch from the front property line and 16 feet 1 inch from the front wall of the home. It projects approximately 9 feet 6 inches from the north exterior wall.
- The proposed addition will comply with all R2 setbacks.
- The remaining architectural elements of the addition will match the existing principal structure, including the water table, cornerboards, cedar siding, and cedar fascia, gutters, brackets and panels.
- The windows on the addition are 1/1 aluminum clad wood with the sill and details to match the existing windows.
- Pages 62-63 of the HBDRM provide guidance regarding additions and generally note that the placement of additions should have minimal impact on the building’s overall character and be designed in the same architectural style and proportions of the overall building.
Roof:
- The scope of work includes a roof replacement, removing the existing asphalt shingles and proposing shingle pattern metal roof material. The architectural plans describe the material as steel shingles that mimic historic roofing styles. Photos are provided in the Supplemental Answers attachment.
- Page 45 of the HBDRM provides guidance regarding roofs and generally notes that it is encouraged to re-roof with materials that match the original in material, color, pattern and profile. Substitute materials such as asphalt or fiberglass singles are acceptable, other materials are discouraged.
Porches:
- The proposed front porch is designed to replicate the existing historic porch on the south primary façade and features a low sloped hipped roof.
- The existing south porch is proposed to be modified to remove the existing wood railings and staircase and construct a new concrete staircase with wrought iron handrail on the west side of the existing porch.
- Pages 52-55 of the HBDRM provide guidance regarding porches and porch components and generally note that a new porch should use acceptable materials, match the new porch components to the original, and be appropriate to the style and period of the home in overall design and scale.
Window:
- New window openings are proposed on the 1st and 2nd floor of the east façade.
- The proposed window openings match the proportions of the original openings relative to each floor. The aluminum clad wood material, 1/1 grid configuration, wood hoods and center wood keystones match the details of the existing windows and those proposed on the north addition.
- Pages 38-39 of the HBDRM provide guidance regarding windows noting that new or replacement windows should use wood or aluminum clad wood materials and match the original in size, proportion, type, and design and new window openings should not be added to a primary façade.
Door:
- The door opening will be changed by removing and relocating the existing south porch door and surround to the west facing porch wall.
- Pages 42 and 43 of the HBDRM provide guidance regarding doors noting that new doors openings are discouraged, and replacement doors should fit the original door opening, use acceptable materials, and be appropriate for the style and period of the home.
Additional Minor Work Proposed
- In-kind replacement of the rock face concrete block foundation.
- Repair and modification of the existing front door to add glass panels with no change in style.
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.