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Historic Preservation Board approves metal roof for landmark at 1336 Seabreeze Boulevard over staff recommendation
Summary
The City of Fort Lauderdale Historic Preservation Board voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness allowing a standing-seam metal roof on the Dr. Willard Van Orkel King House at 1336 Seabreeze Boulevard, despite staff advising that matching the original built-up roof would better preserve the home’s historic character.
The City of Fort Lauderdale Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness allowing replacement of the existing built-up roofing with a standing-seam metal roof at the Dr. Willard Van Orkel King House, 1336 Seabreeze Boulevard, a locally designated historic landmark that also appears on the National Register of Historic Places.
Staff recommended replacing the roof with built-up material to match the original and preserve the home’s mid-century modern character, citing the Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR) and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Trisha (preservation staff) told the board that “opting for new built up roofing to match the existing would better preserve the original aesthetic and character of the structure.”
The homeowner — identified in the hearing as Larry Frusheart — and Tim Nash, owner of Nash Roofing, urged the board to allow a standing-seam metal roof. Nash testified that standing-seam metal roofing was available in the early 1950s and said the system offers longer service life and better performance in storms and fire than the built-up material. He described installation details including an underlayment and stainless-steel fasteners and said the proposed assembly would be durable near the coast.
Board members discussed the competing considerations: staff’s emphasis on matching original materials and the applicant’s argument about longevity, safety and local historic practice. Several members said the metal roof material was historically available at the time the house was built and that the homeowner has been a long-term steward of the property. Board member Sonia said she was “inclined to approve the metal roof, because it was a material that was available during that time period.”
A motion to approve a certificate of appropriateness for major alterations (case UDPHP25004) for 1336 Seabreeze Boulevard carried after a second; the board recorded multiple verbal “ayes” and the chair announced the motion carried. The approval was made subject to the condition that the project obtain all required building and zoning approvals.
Staff noted that the local preservation rules are the controlling standard for certificate-of-appropriateness decisions and that the property owner should consult the National Park Service if they wish to confirm any effect of the alteration on National Register status. The board did not identify a separate finding of fact in the staff report that would require denial; it based its decision on testimony presented at the hearing.
