Heritage commission ratifies relocation and rehab plan for Jesus Science House on East Jackson

The Brownsville Heritage Preservation Commission on Monday approved and ratified a staff-signed certificate of appropriateness that cleared the relocation of the historic Jesus Science House from 1534 East Jackson to 1526 East Jackson and approved a rehabilitation plan for the structure.

Commission members said the move follows earlier reviews: the relocation item had been tabled three times before the commission signed off. Staff told the commission the building will be repaired to replicate missing exterior features, preserve and reuse original doors where possible, and meet applicable building codes.

Staff member Velez described the house's condition and the rehabilitation approach. Velez said the existing vinyl siding covers the original beveled siding and recommended reproducing lost windows and trims. Velez said, “You can see the bull eye...there are some doors that are still original and has been, reserved before relocating.” He added staff would follow the Secretary of the Interior’s preservation principles for repair and replacement when feasible.

Commission discussion focused on siding and material substitution. Commissioner Larry Loft noted that the drop siding typical of the home's era is no longer manufactured and agreed that a fiber-cement product with the same exposure could be acceptable. Staff noted attempts to reach the Fernandez family for photographic evidence of original siding had been unsuccessful and that some elements would need to be reproduced from surviving examples.

The staff recommendation requires the property owner to file building and certificate of appropriateness (COA) applications and to repair the roof structure "in kind" where possible; facades and features either will be repaired or replaced in kind and must meet the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC). Landscaping will be installed to meet the local requirement cited by staff as "4 6 3 e for single homes." The commission also authorized reproduction of missing exterior wainscot and trims and allowed double-glazed wood windows where original single-pane wood windows are too deteriorated to retain.

A motion to approve and ratify the relocation and the staff-suggested rehabilitation passed. The roll call at the start of the meeting showed four commissioners present; during the relocation/ratification motion the commission recorded one opposing vote and the motion passed by voice.

The commission's approval includes the staff-signed authorization that had been provided to the local relocation authority (recorded in the materials as "CDCB"). Staff said the letter authorized CDCB to proceed with relocation and subsequent rehabilitation work; staff brought the item to the commission to formalize and ratify that signed authorization.

The commission did not set a schedule for work or list definitive dates for permit submission; the owner must submit formal COA and building-permit applications before construction begins. The commission record indicates staff and the project architect will photograph and document salvaged elements and that missing decorative features will be reconstructed to match surviving examples when possible.