Historic Zoning Commission

Scenic Drive NC: Level II

12-B-23-HZ

Applicant Request

New secondary structures; new porch and greenhouse additions; exterior rehabilitation of existing rear addition.

New secondary structures: new garage, carport, and studio structures to be constructed to the rear of the house. Garage measure 28' wide by 24' deep, which adjoins a carport and an open stair, measuring 20' wide by 24' deep. A 20'-8" wide by 24' deep studio is adjacent to the open stair; the overall secondary structure massing is 68'-8" wide by 24' deep. The flat-roof structures will extend into a terrace, formed by extending the garage walls and building up the land to create a flat area. The new structures will feature flat roofs, white-painted brick exteriors to match the primary house, and a multi-light garage door. A painted steel canopy structure will extend west to connect the secondary structures with the rear addition.

New additions: a 16'-2" wide by 8'-6" deep greenhouse, enclosed with glass, is proposed for the northeast corner of the house; the greenhouse will be connected to the house via a flat roof. On the southeast corner of the structure, a flat-roof porch supported by painted steel columns will project from the existing addition.

Exterior rehabilitation of rear addition: existing addition, dating to the 1960s, features a large front-gable roof which extends from the rear of the house. The applicants propose to remove the gable roof and install a new flat roof, which will connect with the new porch and greenhouse. New multi-light steel windows will be installed on the rear addition.

The primary house will receive a new slate roof to replace the existing asphalt shingle roof, a new flat-roof canopy over the entry to replace the existing steel canopy, and replacement of the non-historic window shutters.

Site Info

Two story frame with brick veneer wall covering. Side gable roof with asphalt shingle covering. Eight over eight double hung windows. Transom at front entry.

1. 800 Blows Ferry Road is a contributing resource to the Scenic Drive NC overlay.

2. The new secondary structures are proposed for the rear of the property, behind the primary structure. Due to the property's slope and the structures' placement, they will be minimally visible from the street, if visible at all.

3. As one-story buildings with flat roofs, the secondary structures will be proportionate in height and scale to the primary structure; the garage and studio combination will be set into the hillside to further reduce scale. The secondary structures will incorporate exterior cladding materials compatible with the primary structure.

4. The new additions (rear/side porch and greenhouse) will be modest in size and relate to the primary structure via the new roof on the existing rear addition. The additions will not require modification of character-defining features on the house.

5. The wide front-gable roof on the rear addition does not contribute to the overall architectural integrity of the house and is not a significant historic feature. The gable's pitch is lower than the existing house and appears disproportionate to the main house. The removal of the gable and installation of a flat roof will reduce the addition's overall proportions, while connecting the addition to the new work on the property.

6. While standalone exterior rehabilitation projects are not reviewed in the NC overlay, the applicants have included work proposed for the primary house. The re-installation of a new slate roof to match the original will contribute to the house's overall character and the district.