PRESENTER
Katie Totman, HPO
SUBJECT:
HLC Case HST24-376: Discuss and consider a Certificate of Alteration to remove the chimney, replace the front door, and relocate/replace of five windows at 572 Magazine.
HISTORIC DISTRICT/LANDMARK NAME: Sophienburg Hill historic district
APPLICABLE CITATIONS:
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 66 - Historic Preservation
Sec. 66-57. Alteration certificates for alteration or new construction affecting landmarks or historic districts.
No person shall carry out any exterior alteration, restoration, reconstruction, new construction, removal or relocation of any city designated historic landmark or on any property within a city designated historic district which may affect the appearance and cohesiveness of any historic landmark or any property within a historic district without first obtaining an alteration certification authorizing the change.
Sec. 66-58. Criteria for approval of an alteration certificate.
In considering an application for an alteration certificate, the commission shall be guided by any adopted design guidelines, and where applicable, the following from the secretary of the interior's standards for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Any adopted design guidelines and secretary of the interior's standards shall be made available to the property owners of historic landmarks or within historic districts.
(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to adapt the property in a manner which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure, object, or site and its environment.
(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed when possible. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.
(3) All buildings, structures, objects, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
(4) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.
(5) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, object, or site shall be kept where possible.
(6) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material shall reflect the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historical, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
(7) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
(8) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by, or adjacent to, any project.
(9) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural, or cultural material, and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the property, neighborhood, or environment.
(10) Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to buildings, structures, objects, or sites shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the building, structure, object, or site would be unimpaired.
FINDINGS:
a. The building located at 572 Magazine is a residential structure with a full covered front porch, an exposed chimney, and wood siding. Architecturally the home is an example of Craftsman style. It is in the Sophienburg Hill historic district.
b. REMOVAL OF CHIMNEY - The applicant is requesting to remove the exterior brick chimney including the stack. Per Criteria 2, the removal or alteration of the distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible. Chimneys can be considered distinguishing features of a building's original character. Unless the chimney is found to have no historical or architectural significance, its removal does not appear to align with the criteria for approval.
c. WINDOW REMOVAL - The applicant is requesting to remove one (1) window inside the rear screened-in porch, two (2) windows at the rear of the house and two (2) on the west elevation toward the rear of the house and install four (4) new windows. Per Criteria 1, every reasonable effort shall be made to adapt the property in a manner which requires minimal alteration. The windows being removed are located at the rear of the building and are not easily visible from the immediate right of way, and staff finds that this alteration will not adversely impact the overall integrity or appearance of the historic structure.
d. FRONT DOOR REPLACEMENT - The applicant is requesting to replace the existing front door of the main house with a new door. Per Criteria 2, the distinguishing character of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed when possible. The removal or alteration of any distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible. The style of the existing front door is compatible with the Craftsman style of the home.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Staff recommends approval of the removal of the windows based on finding c and encourages they be salvaged for reuse where possible.
Staff recommends the chimney be retained where possible based on finding b.
Staff recommends the front door be retained where possible based on finding d. Should the HLC approve the front door replacement, staff finds that the proposed replacement doors are generally compatible with the Craftsman style of the home.