The Historic Review Board on July 8 approved an application allowing the owners of 109 West Center to preserve and reinforce the house’s front section and construct a single-story addition at the rear, while keeping the street-facing appearance consistent with the neighborhood.

The applicants said they purchased the house 11 months earlier and that the rear portions of the building suffer significant water damage. They proposed preserving the front portion, reinforcing foundations and structure, and adding roughly 1,600 square feet behind it. Materials discussed included a metal roof and Hardie plank siding with a rock wainscot turning a short distance up the restored facade.

City staff recommended approval, finding the proposal consistent with traditional development patterns (citing 3.041 DC and 3.3) and praising the applicant’s decision to retain the front elevation. Staff noted that the transition from demolition to preservation is preferred where feasible and described the rear addition as visually cohesive and clearly differentiated to signal a new date of construction.

Board members asked for full elevations and site plans; staff and the applicant confirmed those materials were submitted though not visible in an initial packet to some members. One board member said the revised plan “looks much better than what I had approved previously,” and the board voted to approve the application as submitted, with the expectation that staff will verify final details and building permits will follow the city’s COA process.

The board reiterated that exterior work on street-facing facades in the local historic district remains subject to staff review and permit requirements, and that any future significant alterations would return to the board.