Board grants variance for existing air‑conditioning condensers at 1620 Pennsylvania Avenue, citing courtyard preservation
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Summary
The board voted to allow nonconforming air‑conditioning units to remain in narrow side yards at a Flamingo Park courtyard building after staff found moving them into the courtyard would damage character‑defining features; the decision followed a finding of practical difficulty due to existing nonconforming setbacks.
The Historic Preservation Board approved a variance on March 14 allowing existing air‑conditioning condensers to remain in the narrow side yards of 1620 Pennsylvania Avenue, a contributing courtyard building in the Flamingo Park Historic District.
Debbie (planning staff) told the board that staff visited the site and concluded the courtyard is the building’s most significant character‑defining feature and moving condensers into the courtyard would require partial demolition of planters and other historic fabric. The property, originally built in 1934 and designed by Martin L. Hampton in a Mediterranean/Art Deco‑transitional style, already has nonconforming side‑yard setbacks (about 6'‑9") that make it impractical to fit modern condenser units at the code‑required clearances.
Mickey Marrero, legal counsel for the condominium association, said the units had been in place for many years and that many current residents had never known the building without that equipment. Marrero explained prior condo conversion and permit gaps; the association applied with evidence to legalize the existing condition rather than force condensers into the courtyard.
Board members asked about noise and visual screening; staff reported no public complaints, noted surrounding hedges and walls block visual exposure in practice, and offered that screening conditions could be required but might be infeasible if they required work on neighboring property. The board accepted staff’s finding of practical difficulty and approved the requested variances by roll call.
Staff will require code compliance steps and permitting to document the existing equipment and screening as necessary.
