Design Review Board clears demolition of damaged house, approves new single-family home at 1128 Colleton Ave.

The Aiken City Design Review Board voted unanimously to approve demolition of the damaged structure at 1128 Colleton Avenue Southeast (certificate application CERD25-001034) and then approved a proposed new single-family home for the same lot (application CERD25-001049) by a 4–1 vote.

Applicant Grant Cole told the board the existing house suffered major damage during Hurricane Helene when large trees fell onto the structure, collapsing porches and shifting the house off its foundation. The board’s staff packet included a structural assessment from professional engineer Thomas Drake of Nandina Inc., which documented water damage, cracks, settlement and deterioration of supporting elements and recommended demolition. "It took the front porches off of the home... the home is actually shifted off of the foundation," Cole said in describing the damage.

The new construction plan submitted to the board calls for a two‑story dwelling with 9-inch wood lap siding, an architectural shingled roof, a two‑story front porch with wrought-iron railings and 4-over-4 metal-clad wood windows with simulated divided lights at an 8-foot window head height. The design also specifies a brick crawl space approximately 36 inches high, pea-gravel drives with borders, and perimeter fencing consisting of 36-inch wrought-iron sections with brick pillars spaced about 10 feet apart. The applicants said the rear of the site will include a 30-foot service drive and gated entry so garages and cars would not be visible from the street.

Neighbors voiced mixed reactions at the public hearing. Linda Johnson, of 515 Parkside Drive, said the proposed house was larger and stylistically different from nearby homes and suggested adjustments to better fit the neighborhood. "It's a beautiful house... but it doesn't seem to really, meet the guidelines in fitting into the neighborhood," she said. Another public speaker and the applicant said landscaping, including heavy vegetation and white paint for the first house, would soften street views; the applicant also said the additional three houses planned for the subdivided parcel could be altered to reduce the stacked-porch appearance.

On the demolition motion (CERD25-001034), a board member moved to approve after referencing the engineer's report; another member seconded and the board voted unanimously. For the new-construction motion (CERD25-001049), a board member moved and another seconded; the transcript records "4 in favor and 1 opposed." The board recorded the demolition approval as unanimous and the new construction approval as carried 4–1. The transcript does not list individual roll-call votes for the new-construction motion.

Staff noted the parcel lies in the Old Aiken Overlay District and is zoned residential multifamily low density (RML). The staff packet referenced the Aiken Historic Resource Survey card (construction date listed circa 1905) and Aiken County Assessor data listing the original residence as constructed in 1903. The applicants said they have a proposed subdivision plat before the planning commission to allow up to four homes on the larger parcel; two back parcels have been sold to investors and the funds will support the Colleton-fronting homes.

The board approved the demolition and the new construction application; the new house approval carried with one recorded opposition on the motion.