Historic board designates small Romero Street house contributing, adds front yard wall as contributing

The Historic District Review Board on Tuesday voted to find the residence at 140 Romero Street contributing to the Westside Guadalupe Historic District and to designate the building—s front facades and the front yard wall as contributing features.

The board—s action followed a status-review hearing hosted by Senior Planner McCully. Staff recommended retaining the structure as noncontributing because of window replacements and alterations but recommended the yard wall be designated contributing due to its long-standing presence and relationship to the Romero streetscape. After hearing from the property owner, who said she did not plan to alter the front facade, and from neighbors, the board concluded the front facades retain character-defining features and that the wall dates to the 1960s and contributes to the street.

Senior Planner Plano McCully said the house was constructed in the 1940s and that most current windows are post-1985 replacements but that the front yard wall retains a low-yard-wall character consistent with the block. The applicant, Camila Ray Kennedy, told the board she had no plans to alter the street-facing openings and described small, character-defining details on the front facade such as the decorative wood above the door.

After public comment and a site visit, a board motion passed to designate the building as contributing with facades 4, 5, 6 and 7 marked primary and to include the front yard wall as a contributing feature, excluding one nonhistoric carport door and plywood infill. The board—s roll-call vote recorded Member Mather, Member Cherry and Member Degnan voting yes; Member Pichai voted no; Member Beachhead voted yes. The motion carried.

Why it matters: Contributing status changes how future changes to the property are reviewed under the city—s design standards and can limit permitted alterations to help preserve the streetscape. The applicant was reminded that designation does not automatically prohibit future changes but that alterations to contributing features will require review and are subject to the city—s standards and exception criteria.

Board records show the action was taken under the city—s historic district rules (section 14-5.2.c.2) and the owner was advised of appeal rights under City Code 14-3.17. Staff will incorporate the board—s findings in the property record and advise the owner on next steps for permits and any required approvals.