3. 1003 Riverside Drive_COA 2021-0517

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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: June 15, 2021 Application Number: 2021-0517 Property Location: 1003 Riverside Drive Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Free Classic / 1906 / “Millhouse House” Property Owner: Aaron Higgins Landmark or District Designation: Riverside Drive Local Historic District, Ordinance #7469-85 Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE : Irregular plan two-story (with attic) with high hipped asphalt shingled roof with gable projections with gable returns and a centrally mounted chimney. Exterior is clad in wood siding with wood shingling in protruding gables. Open porch with concrete block piers topped with square wood posts and a simple balustrade. ALTERATIONS: COA 1994-1128 allowed for in-kind replacement of 6 missing porch spindles. COA 2005-0322 allowed for the replacement of the hipped garage roof, fascia, frieze boards, in-kind. COA 2005-0921 allowed for the re-roofing of the house. COA 2014-0825 allowed for the removal of the aluminum siding and the restoration of the wood siding beneath. AA 2021-0517A allowed for the reconstruction of the southwestern foundation wall between the basement windows, removing and reusing the existing block on a new concrete footing. APPLICATION ITEMS: “Replace failing foundation wall, Remove and replace front stoop, extending retaining wall.” DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: 1. Deconstruct the existing wooden front porch on piers, reconstructing it with a concrete floor, with block matching the existing foundation wall wrapping around the front porch. 2. Extend the existing landscape retaining wall across the front of the lot Current front porch sits on concrete block and is constructed of tongue-in-groove decking. Applicant seeks to reconstruct the porch in poured concrete with brick/block exterior. New concrete ‘cap’ decking and steps will be constructed. Property currently has sections of concrete block along the alley, application seeks to extend the concrete block 57’ across the ‘front’ of the lot along the sidewalk. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Riverside Drive I. THE ENVIRONMENT C. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located in the center of a flat lawn, often divided by a walk leading to the front entrance. Several of the residences are sited on two or more building lots; however, the preponderance of the homes have been erected on a single lot. Most of the properties include a double garage, usually located at the rear of the property. The majority of garages are accessed from straight driveways leading from the main thoroughfare, while a few are accessed from the alley. There are also a few homes with a covered carport located at the rear of the property, as well as a few with circular driveways. Driveway and sidewalk materials include concrete, asphalt and brick. All of the properties have trees and most have trimmed shrubbery and/or hedges. Most of the houses conform to a uniform setback line within each block. Required Plants, trees, fences, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property’s history and development shall be retained. Recommended New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers. New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Plant materials and