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Commission backs adaptive reuse of 1 Cherry Street, approves restoration and window changes
Summary
The HDC approved a comprehensive adaptive-reuse plan for the Manuel Brothers warehouse at 1 Cherry Street that includes restored historic windows, expanded lower windows on the south elevation to bring daylight into the building, a sunroom, and a greenhouse-style skylight; commissioners stressed preservation of key masonry and decorative details.
The Newport Historic District Commission voted Oct. 14 to approve a comprehensive adaptive-reuse project for the former Manuel Brothers warehouse at 1 Cherry Street, accepting a package of restoration, fenestration changes and an east-side sunroom intended to convert the early 20th-century warehouse into a livable single-family residence.
Project overview and preservation approach Attorney Russell Jackson and architect Chris Fagan presented the proposal, which includes restoring historic wood windows where possible, enlarging selected lower windows on the south elevation to introduce more daylight into deep interior spaces, rebuilding or repairing existing dormers and installing a greenhouse-style skylight and a modest sunroom on the east elevation. The team said every historic window that could be repaired would be saved; some windows will be relocated within the building where appropriate, and replaced windows will be compatible in material and profile.
Commission discussion Commissioners noted the building’s industrial origins and its altered cladding history; when original shingles were removed the structure revealed earlier stick-style elements and masonry detailing. Several commissioners supported the adaptive reuse and described the proposal as a way to put a long-unused building back into productive residential use while preserving character-defining masonry and window hoods. Commissioners requested confirmation that arched brick headers and granite sills would be preserved for the bays that retain that original character. Architect Fagan said the design maintains the arched brick detailing and matching sills where present.
Decision and conditions The commission voted to approve the application as presented, citing Newport design standards. The approval included restoration of existing windows, enlargement/lowering of specified south-facing windows to bring light into deep interior spaces, preservation of arched brick details and granite sills, installation of the greenhouse skylight (set into the roof well back from primary street views), and construction of the modest east sunroom. Commissioners asked the applicant to provide final material samples and to coordinate minor details with the preservation planner.
Why it matters The project is a substantial adaptive-reuse effort that returns a contributing industrial building to residential life while maintaining character-defining masonry and window details. Commissioners framed the vote as an example of balancing preservation values with the practical needs of modern occupancy.
Provenance (transcript evidence) Topic introduction: applicant overview begins at transcript ~10992–11015; decision recorded at ~11555 (motion to approve 1 Cherry Street).
