Historic Zoning Commission

Ft. Sanders NC-1: Level II

11-I-17-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Major repair or replacement of materials or architectural elements

Enclose rear cut-away porch. The porch is 11'6" long X 3'6" wide X 9'0" high. The trim pieces will be a continuation of the existing.

Site Info

Two-story frame with cut-away-porch on rear first level. Front-and-cross-gable form

1) These seven houses, including 404 11th are part of the Fort Sanders National Register Historic District. The H-1 Overlay was added to the seven houses in this area in 2003, and the staff report to City Council states specifically that "their Victorian-era styling is better protected by H-1 Historic Overlay designation than by NC-1 Neighborhood Conservation Overlay since NC-1 guidelines do not protect the individual design details of the buildings." Since the Mayor in 2003 sponsored the H-1 designation to better preserve the character of the houses, the enclosure is not a change that would uphold the intent of the historic overlay.

2) The notations on 404 11th Street on the 1903 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps indicate there was a two-story (2x) cut-away porch open on both levels. The notations on 402 indicate that the porch was open on the first floor and enclosed on the second.

3)The rear porch is visible from the public street right-of-way.

4) The porch has been somewhat altered with a new wall (with new small window) projecting into it. However, most of the narrow cut-away porch remains.

5) Since the Sec'y of Interiors Standards state that "Distinctive features, finishes and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property shall be preserved" and "Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced" and "The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved" and " New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy... features and spatial relationships that characterize the propert", enclosure of the character-defining rear cut-away porch that is shown on the 1903 Sanborn map as original does not meet the pertinent guidelines.