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Historic Masonic Hall facade repairs approved; commission bars abrasive cleaning
Summary
The Historic Zoning Commission approved expanded facade reconstruction for the Hiram Masonic Hall but added a condition forbidding sandblasting or other abrasive masonry-cleaning methods.
The Historic Zoning Commission on July 14 approved expanded front‑façade reconstruction at the Hiram Masonic Hall, 115 Second Avenue South, and prohibited abrasive masonry‑cleaning methods such as sandblasting.
Staff said the Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 7 building — a designated national historic landmark — sustained storm damage in spring 2024 and that the proposed scope expands reconstruction down to the third‑floor masonry course to maintain structural integrity. Staff recommended approval with conditions and asked that masonry cleaning be performed gently and explicitly not by sandblasting.
Commissioners heard from Chris Holt, founder of Holt Construction Group, who represented the project and did not add substantive changes beyond the staff report. A commissioner moved to approve “with staff conditions and condition 1 not to to use abrasive cleaning or sandblasting,” and the motion was seconded. The motion passed with voice vote.
In the discussion, one commissioner expressed concern about the sequencing of foundation repairs and front‑wall reconstruction, asking whether repairing the foundation first might cause further movement to the front wall. Staff and other commissioners said the owner’s team — including licensed contractors and structural engineers — would determine appropriate sequencing and that the applicant will submit updated, stamped structural plans with the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) as part of permitting.
Staff noted the work is similar in scope to a plan previously approved in March 2021 but that the new submission expands the extent of façade reconstruction. The commission asked that structural engineering updates accompany the COA and that brick matching and masonry details be coordinated so reconstructed masonry fits the historic character.
The commission’s approval included the staff conditions, incorporating the clarified language that masonry cleaning “should be done as gently as possible and should not include sandblasting or other abrasive cleaning methods.”
The applicant was reminded to submit updated, stamped structural plans and to coordinate final masonry methods with preservation staff during permit review.
