Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on April 11, 2012, to consider 39 agenda items. The board took 13 motions and votes during the meeting and heard 2 public comments.

Of the items considered, 30 were approved, 3 were denied, 2 were postponed, 1 was approved with conditions, 1 was withdrawn, and 1 was informational. The approved projects included fence installations, tree removals, structural renovations, window replacements, landscape plan installations, and various property modifications across multiple addresses throughout the jurisdiction. Notable approved projects included converting an existing warehouse to a retail shop at 431 Jersey Street, demolishing and constructing additions at 426 South Upper Street, and replacing a historic marker head and repairing structures at 201 North Mill Street. Two applications for window replacements and inserts at properties on Oldham Avenue were denied. Two items—installation of a pergola and guardrails at 507 North Broadway and installation of a parking lot and lighting at 333 South Upper Street—were postponed. An application to install signage and a barber pole at 275 South Limestone #110 was withdrawn. An informational presentation was given regarding a proposed construction addition at 262 Delmar Avenue. The board also approved the minutes from its March 14, 2012 meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 11, 2012:

• Brian Smith
• Bill Campbell
• Clive Pohl
• Justin Thompson
• Michael Hayes
• Bobby Friesbrook

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Certificate of Appropriateness for 216 Clay Avenue 5:55 Approved by voice vote. The motion authorized changes to the opening and installation of a railing. Conditions include submission of final railing details to staff for review, masonry work in accordance with guidelines I.3, K, L, and M, and painting of all exposed wood.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 425 South Upper Street 7:29 Approved by voice vote. The motion authorized removal of a rear addition and installation of openings. Final details of the rear entry stoop and railings must be submitted to staff for review and approval prior to purchase of materials, and all exposed wood must be painted.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 364 Park Avenue 9:11 Approved by voice vote. The motion authorized demolition of a garage and retaining wall. Conditions require reworking the front lawn to be sodded or seeded with straw for turf, and submission of a COA application for fencing of the area at the existing garage to the Preservation Office before issuance of the demolition COA.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 431 Jersey Street 11:51 Approved by voice vote with one abstention. The motion authorized conversion of a warehouse to a retail shop.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 433 Jersey Street 13:37 Approved by voice vote with one abstention. The motion authorized reduction of height and change of design of the parapet wall.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 426 South Upper Street 22:16 Approved by voice vote. The motion authorized demolition of an addition, construction of an addition, and a roof deck. Extensive conditions were imposed, including clarification of demolition and foundation plans, retention of existing south wall wood windows and clapboard siding, minimum 12-inch inset of the 7-foot wide addition, parapet wall specifications, guardrail placement, casement window design, stair compliance, and submission of all final drawings and details to the board or staff for review and approval prior to COA issuance.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 507 North Broadway 23:31 Postponed until April 25, 2012 by voice vote.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 358 Oldham Avenue 1:08:31 Disapproved by voice vote with one abstention. The motion rejected replacement of windows and installation of wood inserts.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 354 Oldham Avenue 1:09:08 Disapproved by voice vote with one abstention. The motion rejected replacement of windows and installation of wood inserts.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 380 South Mill Street 1:52:51 Approved by voice vote for masonry walls and chimney with conditions requiring final dimensions and details submitted to staff for review and approval prior to permit issuance. The motion disapproved replacement of 14 one-over-one windows with four-over-four windows.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 333 South Upper Street 2:00:34 Postponed until April 25, 2012 by voice vote.

Minutes of March 14, 2012 Meeting 2:01:37 Approved by voice vote.

Adjournment 2:01:04 Approved by voice vote.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the meeting with concerns related to property maintenance and preservation.

Michael Hayes 1:05:42 spoke regarding affordable housing and vinyl window replacement. Hayes argued that vinyl windows had been replaced by a tenant and proposed that installing wood-faced inserts would serve as a financially feasible and historically appropriate compromise. He emphasized that this solution would allow the property to maintain affordable housing while preserving the visual character of the neighborhood. Hayes noted that 65% of homes on Oldham Avenue are not original structures, and contended that the proposed solution meets design standards without imposing an extreme financial burden on the property.

Bobby Friesbrook 1:28:01 addressed security and HVAC protection concerns. Friesbrook explained that masonry walls were constructed to protect HVAC units from theft and vandalism, citing repeated incidents that had occurred despite existing security measures. He emphasized the urgency of protecting both tenants and property, and noted that delays in approval of the protective measures would jeopardize ongoing operations.

Contested Items

Vinyl Window Replacements at 354 and 358 Oldham Avenue

A heated discussion arose regarding vinyl window replacements at these two properties. The applicant argued that a tenant had replaced the windows with vinyl and proposed wood-faced inserts as a financially feasible and historically appropriate compromise solution. The Board, however, upheld the staff recommendation that vinyl windows are not permitted under the design guidelines. The Board determined that the proposed wood-faced insert solution did not meet the required design standards. This disagreement prompted a lengthy discussion touching on multiple concerns: the affordability of window replacements, the appropriate context for the neighborhood, and the standards necessary for historic preservation. The Board's position prioritized adherence to design guidelines over the applicant's cost-based alternative.

Unapproved Construction at 380 South Mill Street

A procedural dispute emerged regarding work completed at this address without prior approval. The applicant had undertaken construction on masonry walls and a chimney without obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). The Board emphasized the critical importance of following proper procedures before beginning work. Despite the procedural violation, the Board ultimately approved the completed work, but only after imposing conditions on the applicant. These conditions required the submission of final dimensions and construction details to staff for review, ensuring that the work would be documented and verified to meet applicable standards.

244 Clay Avenue: Install fence

2:07

Staff approved the installation of a fence at 244 Clay Avenue in the Aylesford Historic District. The approval was granted without a public hearing.

601 East High Street: Remove 4 dying and diseased trees

2:07

Staff presented a proposal to remove four dying and diseased trees located at 601 East High Street in the Aylesford Historic District.

The item was approved by the body.

722 East High Street: Renovate and install landscape plan/paving

Staff presented a proposal for the renovation and installation of a landscape plan and paving at 722 East High Street, located in the Aylesford Historic District. 2:07

The proposal was approved by staff.

404 East Maxwell Street: Tuck-point front porch railing

2:07

Staff approved tuck-pointing of the front porch railing at 404 East Maxwell Street, located in the Aylesford Historic District. The tuck-pointing work was presented as a staff approval item and was approved by the body.

326 East Maxwell Street: Tuck-point front porch railing

2:07

Staff approved tuck-pointing of the front porch railing at 326 East Maxwell Street, located in the Aylesford Historic District. The tuck-pointing work on the front porch railing was presented as a staff approval item and was approved by the meeting body.

354 Oldham Avenue: Remove dangerous tree

2:07

Staff presented a request for the removal of a dangerous tree located at 354 Oldham Avenue in the Aylesford Historic District. The item was approved by staff.

Outcome: Approved

324 Transylvania Park: Install fencing and replace curb

2:07

Staff approved the installation of fencing and replacement of the curb at 324 Transylvania Park, located in the Aylesford Historic District.

153 West Bell Court: Renovate dormers

Staff approved the renovation of dormers at 153 West Bell Court in the Belcourt Historic District 2:37.

220 Delmar Avenue: Renovate front porch

Staff approved the renovation of the front porch at 220 Delmar Avenue in the Belcourt Historic District. 2:37

The project received staff approval as presented.

509 Russell Avenue: Replace awnings

Staff approved the replacement of awnings at 509 Russell Avenue in the Belcourt Historic District 2:37.

The item was presented as a staff approval matter. No specific concerns or debate regarding the awning replacement were documented in the meeting record.

Outcome: The awning replacement project was approved.

601 Russell Avenue: Renovate garage

Staff approved the renovation of the garage at 601 Russell Avenue in the Belcourt Historic District. 2:37

The item was approved by staff.

155 Constitution Street: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 155 Constitution Street in the Constitution Historic District 2:37.

The agenda item resulted in approval of the proposed renovation project.

158 Constitution Street: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 158 Constitution Street in the Constitution Historic District 2:37.

The agenda item resulted in an approval outcome.

122 East Third Street: Install landscape plan

2:37

Staff approved the installation of a landscape plan at 122 East Third Street in the Aylesford Historic District.

126 East Third Street: Install landscape plan, fence, gates and paving

2:37

Staff presented and approved the installation of a landscape plan, fence, gates, and paving at 126 East Third Street in the Aylesford Historic District.

The proposal was approved by staff.

201 North Mill Street: Replace historic marker head; repair of house and carriage house

Staff presented a proposal for work at 201 North Mill Street in the Gratz Park Historic District, which included replacement of the historic marker head and repair of both the house and carriage house. 3:08

The staff recommended approval of these improvements to the property.

The proposal was approved.

Fayette Park Median: Replace tree

Staff presented a proposal for the replacement of a tree in the Fayette Park Median located in the Fayette Park Historic District. 3:08

The item was approved by staff.

431 West Third Street: Renovate Porte cochere

Staff approved the renovation of the porte cochere at 431 West Third Street in the North Side Historic District. 3:08

The project received staff approval as presented.

251 West Second Street: Install landscape plan

3:08

Staff presented and approved the installation of a landscape plan at 251 West Second Street, located in the North Side Historic District.

The proposal was approved by staff.

411 West Sixth Street: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 411 West Sixth Street in the North Side Historic District 3:08.

The proposal was approved by the body.

287 South Limestone: Renovate structure

3:08

Staff approved the renovation of the structure located at 287 South Limestone in the South Hill Historic District.

The item was approved by staff.

126 West Maxwell Street: Replace upper story windows

3:08

Staff approved the replacement of upper story windows at 126 West Maxwell Street in the South Hill Historic District.

333 South Upper Street: Replace front door and install new lighting at front door

3:08

Staff presented a proposal to replace the front door and install new lighting at 333 South Upper Street, located in the South Hill Historic District.

The item was approved by staff.

425 South Upper Street: Rebuild side wall

Staff approved the rebuilding of the side wall at 425 South Upper Street in the South Hill Historic District 3:08.

The proposal was approved by staff.

340 South Mill Street: Install fencing

Staff approved the installation of fencing at 340 South Mill Street in the South Hill Historic District. 3:08

The proposal was presented as a staff approval item and was approved by the body.

216 Clay Avenue: Change opening; install railing

4:12

The Board considered an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to change openings and install a railing at 216 Clay Avenue in the Aylesford Historic District.

Brian Smith presented the application to the Board. The proposal involved modifying existing openings on the property and adding a new railing.

The Board approved the application, contingent upon the applicant following staff recommendations regarding three specific aspects of the work:

• Railing details
• Masonry work
• Painting of exposed wood

The conditional approval ensures that the changes will be executed in a manner consistent with the historic district's standards and the Board's guidelines for appropriate modifications to properties within the district.

425 South Upper Street: Remove addition; install openings

6:25

The Board considered an application for work at 425 South Upper Street in the South Hill Historic District. The proposed project involves removing a rear addition and installing new openings at the property.

Bill Campbell presented the application to the Board. The Board approved the application with conditions.

As a condition of approval, the applicant must submit final details for the entry stoop and railings for Board review. Additionally, all exposed wood must be painted.

The application was approved by the Board.

364 Park Avenue: Demolish garage and retaining wall

8:00

The Board considered a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition of a garage and retaining wall at 364 Park Avenue.

Outcome

The Board approved the demolition request, subject to conditions. Before proceeding with demolition, the applicant must rework the front lawn and submit a separate certificate of appropriateness application for fencing.

431 Jersey Street: Convert existing warehouse to a retail shop

10:13

The Board considered a certificate of appropriateness for the conversion of an existing warehouse to a retail shop at 431 Jersey Street.

Clive Pohl presented the proposal to the Board. The applicant was present during the discussion. No objections were raised regarding the conversion project.

The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness for the warehouse-to-retail conversion.

433 Jersey Street: Reduce height and change design of parapet wall

12:56

The Board considered a certificate of appropriateness for modifications to the parapet wall at 433 Jersey Street. Clive Pohl presented on this agenda item.

The proposal involved reducing the height of the parapet wall and changing its design. The applicant abstained from the vote due to a personal connection to the matter.

The Board approved the modification to the parapet wall at 433 Jersey Street.

426 South Upper Street: Demolish addition; construct addition and roof deck

The Board considered an application for work at 426 South Upper Street involving the demolition of an existing addition, construction of a new addition, and installation of a roof deck. 14:47

Justin Thompson presented the application to the Board.

The Board approved the application with detailed conditions regarding design, dimensions, and review of final drawings. The approval establishes specific requirements that must be met during the construction process, with provisions for Board review of final design documents before work proceeds.

507 North Broadway: Install pergola and guardrails

23:31

This agenda item concerned a certificate of appropriateness application for installing a pergola and guardrails at 507 North Broadway.

Outcome

The application was postponed until April 25, 2012. The postponement was necessitated by intertwined issues that required combined review before a decision could be made.

358 Oldham Avenue: Replace windows; install inserts

25:36

The Board considered an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows with vinyl and install wood inserts at 358 Oldham Avenue.

Michael Hayes presented on this agenda item. The Board reviewed the proposed window replacement project, which involved installing vinyl windows with wood inserts.

After discussion, the Board determined that the proposed work violated the applicable design guidelines. The Board disapproved the application.

Outcome: Denied

354 Oldham Avenue: Replace windows; wrap surrounds; install inserts

31:33

The Board considered an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows and wrap surrounds at 354 Oldham Avenue, as well as install inserts.

Michael Hayes presented the application. Hayes advocated for a compromise solution, emphasizing affordability concerns and the neighborhood context as factors supporting the proposed work.

The Board disapproved the application. The decision reflected the Board's determination that the proposed window replacement and surround wrapping did not meet the standards for approval under the Certificate of Appropriateness review process.

380 South Mill Street: Construct masonry walls, and outdoor fireplace; replace windows

1:09:44

The Board considered a certificate of appropriateness application for 380 South Mill Street regarding proposed exterior modifications.

Presentation and Proposal

Bobby Friesbrook presented the application, which included three main components: construction of masonry walls, installation of an outdoor fireplace, and replacement of windows.

Board Decision

The Board approved the construction of masonry walls and the outdoor fireplace with conditions. The applicant was required to submit final dimensions and details for Board review and approval before proceeding with construction.

However, the Board disapproved the window replacement portion of the application. Specifically, the proposal to replace 14 one-over-one windows with four-over-four windows was not approved.

Outcome

The application received an outcome of approved with conditions. The masonry walls and outdoor fireplace elements may proceed pending submission and Board approval of final specifications, while the window replacement component was rejected.

333 South Upper Street: Install parking lot and lighting

2:00:34

This agenda item concerned a certificate of appropriateness application for installing a parking lot and lighting at 333 South Upper Street.

The application was postponed until April 25, 2012, at the applicant's request.

275 South Limestone #110: Install signage and barber pole

The application for a certificate of appropriateness to install signage and a barber pole at 275 South Limestone #110 was withdrawn by the applicant. No discussion or debate on this item was recorded.

262 Delmar Avenue: Construct addition

The Board reviewed the conceptual plan for a new addition at 262 Delmar Avenue. This item was presented for informational purposes, and no formal vote was taken on the proposal.

Review minutes of the March 14, 2012 meeting

2:01:37

The Board reviewed and accepted the minutes from the March 14, 2012 meeting. The minutes were approved without objection.