Commission approves 931 Faulkner Street multifamily rehabilitation and new construction with conditions

The Historic District Commission on Aug. 25 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a project at 931 Faulkner Street that rehabs an existing contributing dwelling and adds a new two‑story multifamily building, subject to a list of conditions from planning staff.

The project, described by planning staff as a rehabilitation of a plain traditional Craftsman/Colonial Revival structure plus new construction on a 0.63-acre site in the Robinson Historic District, was approved with conditions addressing materials, tree replacement, parking layout, trash storage and verification of National Park Service window approvals.

The approval matters because the property was rezoned from O‑3 to C‑1 on Jan. 14, 2025; C‑1 allows up to 24 dwelling units per acre, and staff said the 0.63‑acre site could accommodate up to 15 units. The commission’s review was limited to design and conformance with the district guidelines, not zoning policy or personal preference, planning staff said.

Planning staff (Tara, planning staff) said the applicant will clean and tuckpoint brick at the foundation, replace deteriorated weatherboard with cement siding matching the original lap width on the existing structure, and use brick and wood (or wood‑like) materials on the new construction. Staff said the applicant must apply through the National Park Service historic preservation certification program for window approvals and provide verification to staff prior to issuance of the required certificating document. Staff noted that roofing must be asphalt or composition shingles (metal roofing is not allowed), masonry must be cleaned by the gentlest means (water blasting is not permitted) and HVAC and utility equipment must be screened from public view.

Brent Salter, an applicant representative, told the commission the design had been revised after earlier hearings. "We don't have to put in any parking based on the zoning, but we are doing that," Salter said, noting changes that include reducing the height to two stories, adding screening along the north property line, and orienting two main entrances toward Faulkner Street.

Neighbors and nearby residents raised concerns about parking, sight lines and trash. Gary Ferry (1703 Prince Street) said the revised footprint sits closer to neighboring backyards and warned it could create similar sightlines to a previously proposed three‑story plan. He also raised concerns about traffic from cars entering and exiting the 17 proposed parking spaces. Eleanor Roberts (934 Center Street) and Parker West (358 Davis Street), speaking for neighbors, also asked that the parking be moved or screened so lights and activity would not intrude on backyards. Emily Walter (940 Center Street) emphasized trash and pickup logistics, saying the number of residents and vehicles could make curbside operations difficult and that trash containers should not produce odors or visual clutter.

The planning staff conditions include: planting a minimum of five street trees from the approved species list along Faulkner Street (outside the right of way); repairing the existing sidewalk; landscaping and shrub screening along the north side of the parking area; prohibiting asphalt for driving and parking surfaces (requiring brick, stone, pavers or concrete); requiring a minimum of three feet between trash receptacles per Department of Sanitation standards and ensuring roll‑off containers are returned to storage by the evening of trash pickup; and requiring coordination with the Department of Transportation for driveway permits and site development review and replatting prior to construction permits.

Commissioners discussed but did not change the staff condition requiring applicants to provide verification of NPS approval of windows and siding. After the vote, Salter requested that a referenced condition be revised to require verification prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy rather than a certificate of completion; staff replied that rehabilitation work is governed by a certificate of completion and confirmed they were in agreement.

Jenny Davis moved to accept the recommendations of planning staff; the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor. The motion passed and the certificate of appropriateness was approved with the listed conditions.

The commission’s approval addresses only design conformity to the Robinson Historic District guidelines; zoning, density and legal challenges to the rezoning were raised by public speakers but were outside the commission’s purview and were not acted on.