Franklin HZC approves demolition of deteriorated house at 119 Church Street, requires COA for future build

The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission voted 4-0 on Aug. 11 to approve demolition of the principal building at 119 Church Street after reviewing submitted condition reports and cost estimates. Commissioners said the vacant, exposed structure had extensive deterioration and storm damage and that rehabilitation would require wholesale replacement of material. The commission approved demolition of the small 1980s metal accessory shed earlier in the meeting. Staff’s packet noted the main house is listed as noncontributing on the National Register and summarized the commission’s demolition criteria: loss of integrity without adverse district effect, unreasonable economic hardship, or structural instability documented by an experienced historic-structure professional. The applicants provided contractor cost comparisons estimating rehabilitation at $975,000 versus $590,000 to build new; staff recommended denial because the cost estimates were submitted by a contractor without proven historic‑building experience and no structural engineer report from a specialist in historic structures was included. Applicants Matt and John Ligon told the commission they had documentation from “two engineers, a house mover, [and] two contractors” and said the structure posed safety concerns. A nearby resident who spoke in favor of demolition described the house as an “eyesore” and said he walked the building with a contractor and structural expert who showed failing floor joists and foundation collapse. Commissioners discussed the difficulty of demolition votes but concluded that prolonged exposure to weather after a major roof failure had left little of the original fabric to save. The motion to approve demolition passed; the commission attached standard conditions, including that any future proposed development on the lot must return to the Historic Zoning Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The commission approved demolition of the accessory shed separately earlier in the meeting. Members of the public who spoke urged salvaging any reusable historic elements from the house before demolition. What happens next: demolition may proceed under the commission’s conditions, and any new construction or redevelopment of the lot will require a COA review by the Historic Zoning Commission before building permits are issued.