Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H-1: Level II

8-M-19-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Construction of addition or outbuilding

Applicant is proposing a rectangular rear addition, measuring 16'-8" wide by 26' long, offset from the house's right side by 2'-6". A small hyphen, inset 3' from the original house, separates the addition from the existing. Addition to be covered by a flat, black, rubber roof, which will extend to the left (northwest) by 13'-3" to create an adjacent porch. Porch roof length is 22'-6", and will be supported by two metal diagonal posts. Flat roof will be 12'-3" tall and extend to existing roofline. Right side addition wall and flat roof will project approximately 2' from interior massing.

Rear addition will rest on a continuous brick foundation, to match existing foundation. Addition will be clad in wood clapboard siding to match original house and feature two sets of sliding glass doors topped by transoms on the rear elevation, and two double-hung wood windows on the northwest elevation. Hyphen, porch floor, underside of flat roof, and interior of addition wall to feature unpainted wood siding.

Applicant is also proposing the enclosure of an existing rear shed-roof porch with sliding glass doors and wood siding. New basement access hatch to be installed on southeast elevation.

Scope of work also includes: original wood clapboard siding to remain and be repainted; existing asphalt shingle roof to be replaced with new asphalt shingles; repair of broken window panes and existing front door.

Revised per 8/15/2019 HZC meeting: Applicant will also meet the following conditions 1) Maintain wood bargeboard detail on front gable and wood attic vent. 2) Add windows to the southeast elevation of the addition; either double-hung sash windows or small rectangular casement windows to be aligned with the existing double-hung sash windows on the east elevation. Re-use of historic windows is at the applicant or owner's discretion. Design and placement of windows to be approved by staff. 3) The portion of the roof at the hyphen shall be dropped in height approximately one foot to one and one half feet, to allow the existing soffit line and gutter line at the back end of the house to be continued and not affected by the addition.

Site Info

One-story frame residence with a hipped roof with lower cross gables, clad in asphalt shingles. Exterior is clad in wood clapboard siding and house rests on a brick foundation. Turreted front porch features Doric capitals, wood posts, and a sawn wood banister, resting on brick piers. Sawn wood bargeboard on front gable and sawn wood attic vent. One-over-one, double-hug sash windows. Transom at front entry.

1. The house is a contributing resource to the Fourth and Gill H-1 Overlay and the National Register Historic District.

2. The proposed addition adds 475 sq ft to the existing 1,220 sq ft house. The size, scale, and massing of the addition are proportionate to the existing structure.

3. The existing house's rear elevation features a recessed, shed-roof entry stoop. KGIS Pictometry aerial photographs dating to March 2018 show a small shed-roof addition, which has since been removed from the rear of the house. HZC does not have documentation of this partial demolition.

4. The rear elevation is not a character-defining elevation for the property, though two historic two-over-two, double-hung sash windows are located on wall where the shed-roof massing was located. The location of the proposed addition does not impair the essential form and integrity of the historic house.

5. The recessed hyphen helps to differentiate the historic house from the new construction.

6. The use of a brick foundation and wood clapboard siding on the addition are compatible with the historic house's materials. The proposed unpainted wood section for the hyphen is small in size and will complement the color of the brick chimney and foundation.

7. Applicant is proposing replacement of the existing brown asphalt shingle roof with a new asphalt shingle roof with dark grey asphalt shingles, which meets the design guidelines.

8. The adjacent property to the northwest (715 Luttrell Street) features a wide lot, approximately 92' compared to 707 Luttrell's approximate 60'. The half of the lot closest to 707 Luttrell is open, featuring a garden and several trees. Therefore, the rear addition will be somewhat visible from Luttrell Street. The addition will be somewhat visible from 3rd Avenue, but obscured by an addition that is under construction on 703 Luttrell Avenue and a two-car garage structure which fronts 3rd Avenue.

9. No windows are proposed for the southeast wall, which extends 26' to the rear. The lack of windows means the relationship of solids to voids on this elevation of the addition is not compatible with the historic building. Two small rectangular casement windows installed to be aligned with the top of the existing double-hung sash windows would allow for privacy and minimal light intrusion, while also breaking up the solid wall. Double-hung sash windows would also be appropriate.

10. The proposed addition is contemporary in nature, which is permissible under the guidelines. The hyphen and roofline clearly differentiate the addition from the historic building. It does not duplicate the exact form, material, style, or detailing of the historic building. The addition makes clear what is historic and what is new.

11. The v-shaped metal porch supports are not compatible with the materials, scale, and design of the historic building or historic porches.