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Board finalizes special tax assessment certification for restored Willis Irvin house at 504 Berry Road SW
Summary
The Design Review Board unanimously approved final certification (TAX029) for a special historic property tax assessment for renovations to 504 Berry Road SW after a site visit confirmed completed work and eligible expenditures of $258,332.76, exceeding the 20% minimum requirement of $250,000.
The Aiken City Design Review Board unanimously approved final certification TAX029 on Feb. 11, 2025, granting a special tax assessment for historic properties to owner Lucy Knowles for renovations at 504 Berry Road Southwest.
Scope and eligibility: The board reviewed a long list of interior and exterior renovation work approved in the preliminary certification, including painting, guest‑suite and attic renovations, asbestos abatement, basement work, and driveway regrading. The applicant provided receipts documenting $258,332.76 in eligible rehabilitation expenditures. An appraisal submitted with the preliminary certification placed market value at $1,250,000 as of June 2, 2021; the required minimum expenditure for the special tax assessment is 20% of the fair market value, or $250,000 in this case, which the submitted receipts exceed.
A site visit was held on Feb. 4, 2025, and board members said they observed careful restoration of character‑defining features. One board member commented that walking through the house felt like “it’s 1930 again,” noting retention of original windows and restored interior details. Lucy Knowles and companion Art Buckley attended; Knowles said, “There’s nothing I can add to what you have said. Thank you very much.”
Formal action: A board member moved and a second was made to certify that the completed work met the standards in section 38‑8(d) and the minimum expenditure requirements in section 38‑8(c). The motion passed by unanimous voice vote; no nays or abstentions were recorded on the transcript.
Next steps: Staff will transmit the board’s final certification to the county/treasurer’s office for application of the special tax assessment per local process.
