The Historic Preservation Board on Aug. 26 denied a demolition request for a contributing accessory garage at 3015 Washington Road, concluding that the small, historic garage is capable of repair despite evidence of significant termite and water damage and that demolition was not warranted.

Attorney and representative Anthony Harrington told the board the garage — a masonry vernacular accessory building dating to about 1925 and roughly 520 square feet — had deteriorated, harbored pests and was structurally compromised. He said the property owner, Jeffrey Rosen, had submitted plans for a new main house and that raising the lot and building a new retaining wall to accommodate the revised main-house floor elevation made rebuilding the garage in its current location difficult and potentially unsafe. Harrington presented a proposed replacement garage plan for a narrower, two‑story garage to match the new main house.

Why it matters: The garage is a contributing resource in the local historic context and was not included in the primary‑structure demolition approved in 2016. The board emphasized that accessory structures can have independent historic value and that demolition should be a last resort.

Staff and board evaluation: City staff summarized code criteria for demolition review and noted the applicant supplied structural observations. Several board members said they had seen worse and believed repairs and stabilization were feasible; members raised the option of adjusting site grade or providing other site-design solutions rather than removing the historic garage. One board member recalled the 2016 demolition-by-neglect history of the main house and emphasized the need to protect remaining historic fabric.

The board action: After discussion, a motion to deny the demolition application carried. The board did not approve demolition and did not grant permission to remove the structure. Because the board denied demolition, no action was taken to approve the applicant's proposed replacement garage plans at the same hearing.

Next steps: The owner may revise plans to pursue rehabilitation of the existing garage or return with additional documentation; any proposed replacement or structural alteration would require a new application and appropriate notice.