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Commission approves deck, railing and restricted rear-door alteration at Alexander Circle home
Summary
The commission approved decking, railing and stair modifications and allowed a widened rear door at an Alexander Circle house with conditions requiring a transom, matching mullions and matching exterior cladding to existing replacement windows; the item was a continuation from a prior submission.
The commission approved modifications to a rear deck, railing and stairs at an Alexander Circle house and granted a conditional approval for a larger rear door opening with several restrictions intended to preserve the property’s historic character.
The applicant submitted updated drawings showing revised railing details, stair alignment and two options for the new opening: a taller single-pane door with no transom or a shorter door topped by a transom. Staff and commissioners discussed material and visual details, including the railing finish (black square aluminum posts with an English-walnut-colored cap), composite decking and the desire for divided-light appearance to match surrounding windows.
A staff reviewer (Wes) and others noted that the door treatment should be sympathetic to the house and nearby units. Commissioners recommended a transom above the door, simulated or applied mullions (divided-light appearance) to match adjacent units where present, and that the door’s exterior cladding color match the building’s replacement windows (aluminum-clad, dark/bronze finish). The record shows a prior, similar approval in 2018 for a neighboring unit, which commissioners cited as a relevant precedent.
The commission’s motion approved the decking, railing and stair modifications as submitted and approved the new back door with conditions: the opening must include a transom unit, mullions or simulated divided lights should match the adjacent unit if present, and the exterior finish/color of the door must match the replacement windows. The motion also referenced two findings used to support the alteration: that the opening is not “readily visible” from the public right-of-way and that a prior precedent exists for an analogous opening on a neighboring unit. The motion passed by voice vote; a roll-call tally was not provided.
Commissioners and the applicant discussed product options (Lincoln and Andersen were mentioned) and whether sliding doors or hinged double doors were preferable; commissioners said hinged or double doors can be appropriate and may better match historic proportions, but left the final door type to the applicant provided the visual conditions are met. Staff will include the color and material match and the transom/mullion requirements in the approval documentation, and the applicant must return if substantially different materials or proportions are later proposed.
