The Historic Preservation Commission approved an application on Sept. 16 to add a rear addition at 1123 Sixth Street South in the Erskine Historic Overlay District. Megan Elsaug of the Department of Planning and Development presented the application on behalf of colleague Luke Mormon, who was out of the office.

Elsaug said the home, recorded in city files as built in 1915 in a national style, would receive an addition that adds two bathrooms and an office space. The applicant revised the exterior from previously proposed lap siding to board-and-batten siding with shaker-style shingles above; the addition is set back one foot from the existing facade to meet setback requirements.

Homeowner Christine Johnson addressed commissioner questions about transitions between stucco on the existing house and the new board-and-batten siding. "The reason why we have it... we're actually putting it a foot back to try not to match stucco," Johnson said, adding that repairing and matching old stucco patches "just doesn't look great." She said the applicant intends to repaint the house to tie colors together and to use a concrete-look finish below the floor line to blend with the existing foundation.

A commissioner cited the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation when discussing how additions should read as new work rather than exactly mimic historic materials. The chair and commissioners asked detailed questions on trim, window types, foundation finish, and mechanicals; Elsaug and Johnson answered that windows will match existing double-hung profiles and that the addition will use forced air with some mini-split units relocated as needed.

Commissioner 3 moved to approve the application as submitted; the chair seconded, and the commission approved the motion by voice vote. Elsaug noted that the project will require inspections-department reviews and any applicable permits before construction begins.

The commission did not attach additional conditions during the hearing. The next commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2025.