Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H-1: Level II

11-H-15-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Construction of addition or outbuilding

Construct wood frame 15'x21' carport at ~ 9 feet high with wood deck on top of flat roof. Deck to have 36-inch high wood balustade with 2x2 square wood balusters. Deck to have built-in wood bench and 6-foot wood planter wall on south side as shown in submitted sketch.Overall structure (not including planter wall) is estimated to be 13 feet high. Wood framed steps to be on the north side. Carport located in rear and the roof is cantilevered five 5 feet from the alley, with support posts being ~7 feet from alley. (Cobblestone pavers to be laid beneath carport.)

Site Info

Two-story frame with weatherboard wallcovering. Hip roof with lower cross gables and gabled front dormer and gablet with louvered attic vent. Sawn wood bargeboard with pendant. Sunburst design applied on front gable with twenty-light window and fishscale imbricated shingles, dentils at cornice return on front gable. Two-over-tow double-hung windows with casement windows on sun porch. One-story full front porch, patially enclosed for sun porch with wood posts on brick piers and brick balustrade. Brick foundation. Irregular plan. Transom at front entry. (Contributing)

1) . . . New houses in the district might have had garages, with the same roof shapes and wall coverings, or with wall coverings that matched the primary building on the lot. Buildings resembling servants' quarters or carriage houses, work buildings, or simple one story garages are appropriate to be constructed in the Fourth and Gill District.

2) Due the hight and size which are very large in relation to the back of the house and the back yard (over 30% of façade and yard area) and the flat roof with balustrade, the carport / deck structure does not reflect the original designs of outbuildings in the district, and is not a design that reflects that of the house.

3) The location of the deck is only 5 feet from the alley, whereas, approved decks in the district are situated deeper into the rear yard, away from the alley.

4) Approaching from the south, the underside of the caport roof (the ceiling) appears to be an unfinished structure.

5) Decks in the district are typically stained or painted rather than being of raw wood material.

6) The alternative design submitted by the applicant showing a half roof pitch makes the building taller, and causes the building to be more obtrusive in the alley.