|
PRESERVATION SPECIALIST REPORT:
<br />Specialist Toering and Inspector Szaday visited the property in the afternoon of January 9, 2019 upon the request of
<br />the property owner, Bill McKnight. Mr. McKnight appraised staff of the condition of building since their last visit
<br />in September: that there had been a break-in, that multiple windows had been destroyed, that the front door on this
<br />property and 508 had been vandalized, and that a previous contractor (that was no longer employed by Mr.
<br />McKnight) had installed the replacement vinyl windows on the north side of the ground floor of the property, as
<br />well as removed the front storm doors and replaced the front doors. Mr. McKnight was appraised of the need to
<br />apply for a retroactive Certificate of Appropriateness for this work. Discussion was had regarding ways through
<br />which the project could be made compliant by the addition of exterior trim work to conceal the vinyl windows.
<br />
<br />A blank Certificate of Appropriateness application was sent to Mr. McKnight later that day. A completed
<br />application with payment was received on February 11, 2019.
<br />
<br />On March 27th, Commissioner Gelfman, Specialist Toering, and Inspector Szaday visited with the property owner
<br />and Troy McKee at 510 S St. Joseph to hear proposals regarding this application, as well as the condition of the
<br />neighborhood and surrounding properties.
<br />
<br />For context, Inspector Szaday’s assessment of the windows from September 5, 2018 is as follows:
<br />“Windows: The owner has proposed the replacement of 7 original wood double-hung windows. I
<br />was unable to inspect the windows in the second floor as the apartment is occupied and the renter was not
<br />home. The four on the first level all have lower sashes that are broken and each have metal angle brackets
<br />holding the sashes together. These sashes are missing ropes and are not rotted, but rather are structurally
<br />damaged beyond repair. The metal storm windows are missing screens but have kept the original sashes
<br />and sills safely out of the elements. The upper sashes are painted and nailed in place.”
<br />
<br />STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Taylor’s Field Local Historic District Guidelines
<br />I. THE ENVIRNOMENT
<br />A. THE DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT
<br />[…]
<br />B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES
<br />Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot with a small to medium lawn
<br />in front and little to no lawn at the rear of the property. Often the back yard is used as a parking lot for tenants. About half of
<br />the properties include a garage which is either located at the rear of the property and accessed from unpaved alleys running
<br />behind the property or located directly next to the structure and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage struc ture
<br />and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage structures are out of date, single -stall frame buildings. One larger
<br />carriage house still stands in the district. Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges. Most houses conform to th e
<br />uniform set-back within each block.
<br />Required
<br />Plants, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property’s history
<br />and development shall be retained.
<br />Recommended
<br />New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings, and
<br />newspapers. New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type, and appearance.
<br />Accessory structures such as decks, gazebos, fountains and/or small outbuildings should be appropriate to surrounding site
<br />elements in scale, type, and appearance. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building and causing deteriorat ion
<br />to the building’s historic fabric should be removed and replaced by suitable flora as approved by the Historic Preservation
<br />Commission.
<br />Prohibited
<br />No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other site
<br />elements before evaluating their importance to the property’s history and development. Front yard areas shall not be
<br />transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. Front yard areas shall not be fenced or fences shall not extend
<br />forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installat ion of unsightly devices such as television satellite dishes, solar
<br />panels and skylights shall not be premised in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare.
<br />II. EXISTING STRUCTURES
<br />A. BUILDING MATERIALS
<br />Original exterior wall materials in the district include limestone, flagstone, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, sandstone and
<br />masonry block. In some instances, vinyl or aluminum siding has been applied over the original material.
<br />Required
<br />Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair,
<br />cleaning and painting. The existing or original architectural detail windows, porches, doors, and eaves should be retained o r
<br />replaced by replicas of the same design and materials when det eriorated beyond repair. Masonry including brick, limestone,
<br />flagstone, sandstone, and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove stains, and shall be
<br />done with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i .e. low pressure water and soft natural bristle bushes. No
|