March 2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STAFF REPORT CONCERNING REVIEW OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 03/08/06 Application Number: 2006-0224-01 Property Location: 721 Forest Avenue Property Owner: Francis Sherwood Designation: Chapin Park Local and National Register District Rating: Contributing/Gabled-T STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT This is the Charles Collins house, which was built between 1890 and 1892. It is a Gable -T with some Stick and Queen Anne detailing. APPLICATION ITEMS: Construct 6' by 12' rear addition with matching trim, siding, soffit detailing, block foundation, roof covered with asphalt shingles; door to be reused and Velux skylight to be installed. Construct 14' by 14' deck on the south side of house. Deck will be situated 10" from the house and 12" from the ground. It will have a 10' by 14' pergola with lattice screening on two sides. Materials will be treated lumber: 5/4 by 6 decking and 4 by 4's for pergola. GUIDELINES & STANDARDS III. New Construction. New work may be contemporary or may suggest motifs from historic buildings in the district. A. Height and Pronortion. Prohibited. Additions that would add new height or change the existing fagade of the building and change its scale and architectural character shall not be constructed. B. Building Materials. Required. Materials used on an addition to an existing structure shall relate to the existing or original materials of that structure (Page 77 —78). C. Sheds and Accessory Buildings. Reauired. Sheds and accessory structures (gazebos, decks, doghouses, playhouses, fountains and small reflecting pools, outdoor sculpture, children' play equipment, etc.) shall be located at the rear of the property and as unobtrusively as possible while preserving historical relationships between the buildings, landscape features and open spaces. Recommended. Accessory building designs should be compatible in character and mood to the residence and the neighborhood (Page 79). RECOMMENDATION The proposed addition will relate to the existing addition in design and materials, and it will not change the scale and architectural character of the fagade of the building as viewed from Forest Ave. Staff recommends approval of the rear addition as submitted. Staff met with the contractor prior to submittal of the application and reviewed some examples of design features of Victorian gabled houses and their porches/verandahs, which could be incorporated into the design. The guidelines note that decks should be located at the rear of the property and unobtrusively as possible. Though 4 feet will be obscured by the side wing, ten feet of the deck with the screened pergola structure will be visible. There may be a less obtrusive placement of the deck behind the rear wall of the house and adjacent to the rear addition. The deck could still be accessible from the side door of the house by a decked walkway. Staff recommends further discussion with the owner, the contractor, and the Standards & Maintenance Committee.