Historic Home Renovation Sparks Controversy Over Porch Columns

In a recent government meeting, the Heritage Hills Preservation Committee reviewed an application from Stacy Taylor on behalf of Omega Investments regarding the restoration of windows at a property located at 108 Northwest 19th Street. The proposal included replacing five windows and constructing columns at the front porch piers.

The committee discussed the window replacement, noting that the existing windows had been installed without the necessary Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) and did not meet the applicable guidelines. Staff expressed support for the proposed window replacements, which would feature single-pane clear glass and true divided light configurations to match the historical styles of 4 over 1 and 5 over 1.

However, the proposal for the porch columns faced significant scrutiny. Staff recommended a continuance on this aspect, citing a lack of historical evidence that such columns had ever existed at the property. The guidelines for historic preservation discourage adding features that are not substantiated by historical documentation.

During the meeting, representatives for the applicant argued that similar columns exist on other homes in the neighborhood and that the addition would enhance the property’s aesthetic appeal. Despite this, committee members expressed concerns about the absence of evidence supporting the original presence of columns. Public comments echoed these sentiments, with several residents stating that the homes in the area were typically built without columns.

Ultimately, the committee voted to approve the window replacements while denying the porch column proposal with prejudice, meaning the applicant could not reapply for the same request without new evidence. The decision reflects the committee's commitment to preserving the historical integrity of the neighborhood while allowing for appropriate renovations.