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ARC approves renovation and rear addition at 407 S. Delaware Ave; commission asks for research on front porch knee wall
Summary
The commission approved a one‑story rear addition and reopening of the front porch at 407 South Delaware Avenue in Hyde Park, requiring wood windows, recessed window details, brick‑clad piers and historical research to confirm whether a prominent knee wall on the front porch is original before any change.
The Architectural Review Commission on June 2 granted a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior renovations and a rear one‑story addition at 407 South Delaware Avenue in the Hyde Park Historic District, while requesting additional historic research on a prominent front‑porch knee wall before any alteration.
Michael Levine, owner and applicant, said he and his wife bought the 1925 bungalow to restore it and to add a modest rear addition. He presented plans to reopen the enclosed front porch, replace windows with wood double‑hung units, restore siding and porch details, and build a small rear addition with new French doors and porch steps. “We purchased this bungalow in Hyde Park recently, with the intent to do a full renovation to the interior, exterior and a rear addition and some site work,” Levine told the commission.
Staff found the application consistent with the Hyde Park design guidelines but flagged a set of conditions intended to preserve character‑defining features and to require documentation for items not fully shown on the plans. Notably, staff and commissioners identified a low brick knee wall on the front porch that appears original and which staff recommended be retained. Several commissioners asked that the applicant research historical photos and records to establish whether the knee wall is original construction or a later infill before any removal is approved.
Other conditions in the approval require: all new windows to be wood (not clad), window types to match the originals (including casement units where original), piers supporting porch piers to be finished in brick to match existing painted brick, lattice between foundation piers to be wood, porch steps and decking materials to be called out (staff suggested concrete steps with a wood porch), and recessed window installation details to reproduce a historical shadow line rather than flush installations. Staff also asked for the rear porch column detail and the porch ceiling finish (beadboard was proposed) to be clarified.
The commission unanimously approved the Certificate of Appropriateness with the conditions and directed staff to verify final drawings and materials during permit review. Commissioners encouraged the applicant to explore restoring original windows where feasible.
Outcome: Certificate of Appropriateness granted with conditions; staff will confirm final details and may require restoration of original elements where feasible.
Why it matters: The case underscores ARC’s emphasis on retaining original character‑defining features and on requiring documentary evidence before altering visible elements — in this case the front‑porch knee wall — so that historic fabric is not removed without verification.
