Historic Preservation Board approves Pershing Way rebuild, denies two proposals, advances shotgun-house code change

The City of West Palm Beach Historic Preservation Board on Jan. 28 approved demolition of an existing house at 24‑93 (Pershing Way) and granted approval for new construction on the lot with multiple conditions, denied separate new‑construction proposals at 3308 Washington Road and a variance request for 300 Marlborough Road, approved renovations and a Class B special‑use permit for 21100 Lake Avenue, and recommended a narrowly tailored code change to allow subdivision of certain shotgun‑house parcels in the Northwest neighborhood.

Why it matters: The board’s decisions advance one major rebuild while rejecting two proposals the board and staff concluded were incompatible with their immediate historic contexts. The board also forwarded a code change designed to enable fee‑simple ownership of small historic shotgun houses on specific lots — a policy outcome the Community Redevelopment Agency is pursuing to increase affordable homeownership while preserving historic fabric.

Pershing Way (Case 24‑93 / 24‑93230) Rafael Rodriguez, the project architect, told the board the revised Pershing Way design reduced floor area and site coverage from the earlier submission and retained existing curb cuts and driveway locations. After public comment from a nearby neighbor who said the project still “burdens the neighbors with the scale of the project,” the board moved to approve two separate motions: one to allow demolition of the existing building and a second to permit the proposed new construction subject to detailed conditions.

Staff presentation and board action: Anna Maria Aponte, Assistant Development Services Director, told the board staff recommended approval of the demolition conditional on approval of the new construction; staff also recommended approval of the new construction subject to Secretary of the Interior Standards and additional site‑specific conditions. The board approved the demolition motion and then approved the new construction with conditions including: limiting the enclosed area on the west elevation to meet the outdoor covered space FAR discount; specified window muntin patterns; product approvals for clay barrel tile, garage and front doors; allowing a standing‑seam metal porch roof that must be compatible in color (no crimped metal); elimination…