Design Review Board approves conversion of former church at 433 Whiskey Road into single‑family home

The Aiken Design Review Board unanimously approved an amended application to convert a former church at 433 Whiskey Road into a single‑family residence, following the board’s finding that the applicant demonstrated a substantial change in circumstances that allowed reconsideration of a previously denied application.

The board first voted to determine whether the amended application could be heard under zoning ordinance section 5.2.3.k; Rebecca Seymour, staff liaison, read the ordinance language that allows a denied certificate of appropriateness to be reconsidered if “the applicant can demonstrate to the board a substantial change in circumstances relevant to the application.” After presentations and questions, a board member moved to find substantial change and the motion passed unanimously.

The applicants, Scott and Kimberly Gudith, told the board they purchased the property because of its lot size and proximity to downtown and said the revised plans reduced the garage footprint and changed the front and porch details to better fit the historic district. “We immediately recognized the potential to transform this church into a beautiful home,” Scott Gudith said, describing changes including an increased roof pitch, replacement windows, and exterior brick painted Sherwin‑Williams Alabaster. The application proposes black Owens Corning shingles, a 6x8 mahogany double front door, black board‑and‑batten shutters, two rear porches, and a new three‑car garage with living space above; the applicants reduced the second‑floor garage length from about 40 feet to about 34 feet 6 inches and lowered the number of dormers on the north elevation.

Board members questioned fence style and siting. One board member said scalloped 1x6 wood panel fencing along Whiskey Road “is not in harmony with what you see on Whiskey Road” and urged the applicants to reconsider the scalloped treatment for the Whiskey Road frontage; the applicants responded that they selected scalloping to allow visibility of the house and cited examples in nearby photos submitted with the application. Neighbors who spoke in favor described the property’s visible frontage as a community benefit: Betty Reiberg said she disliked hiding houses behind walls and praised the applicants’ decision to keep the house visible to the street.

After further discussion the board moved to approve the amended certificate of appropriateness, finding the renovation and the downsized garage to be in harmony with the design guidelines as presented in the staff memo. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The board and staff noted that a separate certificate of appropriateness will be required if the applicants later submit plans for a stable the site plan indicates as a potential future building.

The property is located in Historic District 2 and is classified in the staff report as a non‑contributing property within the historic overlay; the Aiken County assessor lists construction in 1994, and the property does not have an Aiken historic resource card.