Architecture board approves demolition of rear cottage at 3182 Cloverdale Road; owner to document structure

The Montgomery City Architecture Review Board approved demolition of a deteriorated rear cottage at 3182 Cloverdale Road, finding that an engineer’s report showed the structure was not repairable.

Applicant Diane Pickle told the board the demolition request carried over from a previous meeting and that she had submitted a structural engineer’s report. The report and photographs presented to the board documented a lack of foundation, loss of roof, buckling walls and other damage the board said made repair impracticable.

“I don’t think it’s repairable either,” said Elizabeth Brown, chair of the Architecture Review Board, after reviewing the engineer’s report and the condition of the building. The board discussed whether adequate documentation had been provided to justify demolition and asked the applicant to assemble a record for future reference.

The board amended its approval to require the applicant to prepare a minimal historic record: photographs of all four elevations, representative interior samples, and a site plan showing the building footprint and dimensions. The board asked the applicant to submit the documentation to the Montgomery County Historical Society and to provide a copy to city staff so the files will be available to future applicants and staff.

Charlie Coleman of the Cloverdale Idlewild Association spoke in support of the demolition, saying the neighborhood group did not oppose the removal. The applicant said there were no current plans to build a replacement structure.

The board’s motion to approve demolition, as amended to require documentation, passed. The transcript does not contain a roll-call tally; the board recorded the motion as approved.