March 2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.X, 11 STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: March 4,2008 - Application -Number: ,2008 Application-Number: 2008-0304 Property Location: 1329 East Washington Street Property Owner: Kathleen and Mark Neal Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark Rating: Outstanding STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT: This Tudor Revival home was designed by the firm of Austin and Shambleau for Joseph Maxwell Stephenson in 1923. He lived there until his death in 1946. The house was then sold to Eugene O'Brien, Vice President of the O'Brien Varnish Company. The home was landmarked on October 25, 1982. APPLICATION ITEMS: Replace previously existing garden shed along rear of property (Exhibit A.) Structure designed to mirror Tudor style and colors of house. See attached specifications and drawings. of customized shed (Exhibit B). Outer Spaces, Inc. of Granger, Contractor (Exhibit D). LANDMARK STANDARDS, GROUP B: Building Site and Landscaping 1. Required: Major landscaping.items, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained. Dominant land contours shall be retained. Structures such as: gazebos, patio decks, fixed barbecue pits, swimming pools, tennis courts, greenhouses, new ails, fountains, fixed garden furniture, trellises and other similar structures shall be compatible to the historic character of the site and neighborhood and inconspicuous when viewed from a public way. 2. Recommended: New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers. Plant materials and trees in closed proximity to the building that are causing deterioration to the buildings historic fabric should be removed. However, trees and plant materials that must be removed should be immediately replaced by suitable flora. Front yard areas should not be fences except in cases where historic documentation would indicate such fencing appropriate. Fencing should be in character with the building style, materials and scale. RECOMMENDATION: , Staff recommends approval. The construction of the new shed is in the approximate foot print of previous garden shed (Exhibit Q. Since there is no documentation of what the previous garden shed looked like, the staff finds the current design appropriate since it mirrors some of the architectural features of the house, i.e., wider trim pieces. and framing around the double doors, wider corner boards (Exhibit B). Since this structure will be located at the rear of the property along a vacated alleyway and situated in the mature landscaping it should not be noticeable from the street.