Santa Fe Historic Districts Review Board approves multiple property decisions, upgrades one house to "contributing"

The Santa Fe Historic Districts Review Board on Jan. 14 reviewed nine new-business cases and approved applications ranging from an upgrade of a historic-status designation to new construction on a vacant lot.

Staff recommended — and the board approved — an upgrade of 1010 Camino San Acacio to “contributing” in the Downtown and Eastside Historic District, a change based on staff’s review of fabric and historic association with artist Louis Ewing. Paul (staff member) advised the panel that staff’s recommendation was to “upgrade the historic status of the structure and rock yard wall to contributing,” and the board adopted staff’s recommendation by roll call vote.

The board approved a string of other applications with conditions or design clarifications: exterior alterations at 1226 Cerro Gordo (portal construction and a parapet raised to 12 feet), window and door replacement and limited exceptions at 312 Pino Road (including debate about a mid-century steel casement window), a substantial restoration project at 423 Camino Don Miguel that removed later additions to reveal the original adobe core, approval for new construction at 1126 Camino delora (a sloping vacant lot) with an awarded height adjustment, a new garage at 428 San Antonio Street, a narrowed portal at 829A West Manhattan Avenue (reduced to a 6-foot depth and set slightly inset), and a casita and garage package at 715 Gregory Lane with a condition capping the casita at 11 feet 8 inches.

Why this matters: the board’s rulings affect whether features are protected under the city’s historic-design standards and how owners may alter or re-build properties inside local historic districts. Upgrading a property from noncontributing to contributing changes the review standards that future owners must meet and can shape how Santa Fe’s older neighborhoods preserve architectural character.

Details of selected items

1010 Camino San Acacio — status upgrade Paul (staff member) presented the staff report on case 2024-009653, describing the residence as a Spanish Pueblo Revival house originally associated with artist Louis Ewing and built in the early 1960s. Staff identified distinctive features — rubble rock foundation wall, wooden corbels around primary facades — and recommended upgrading the property and the rock yard wall to contributing. Daniel Strongwater, the agent, added historical detail about Ewing and how the house’s rubble foundation was assembled. Member Benvenu moved to adopt staff’s recommendation; Member Mather seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.

1226 Cerro Gordo — parapet and portal Case 2024-009611 (1226 Cerro Gordo) sought approval for a modest portal, matching materials and a parapet increase from 10 to 12 feet to accommodate future solar panels. The applicant said the parapet raise was intended both to accommodate solar equipment and to accommodate site constraints. The board approved the application as submitted; staff clarified the approval applied to the heights shown in the submittal, not to a larger parapet than what the application requested.

312 Pino Road — windows, doors and exceptions Case 2024-009323 (312 Pino Road) involved multiple exceptions to replace windows and doors, including a contested steel casement window on a primary facade. Staff recommended exceptions for many of the nonhistoric windows while the historic architect identified a midcentury steel casement as repairable. The board approved the package with a condition updating the south-door detail prior to permitting; the roll-call record shows some members voting no on the motion to approve the exceptions (the record lists two members registering “No”). Public commentators urged the board to preserve historic windows where repairable, and the board discussed precedent and the ordinance’s standards for restoring rather than replacing historic windows.

423 Camino Don Miguel — reestablishing the adobe core In case 2024-009651, the applicant proposed removing later additions (about 1,570 square feet of nonhistoric elements) and constructing more modest additions to restore the original adobe core and Pueblo Revival appearance. Staff recommended approval and the board approved the restoration-focused proposal. Multiple neighbors and public commenters spoke in support; the project was described by applicants and staff as returning the property closer to its historic footprint.

1126 Camino delora — new construction on a sloping lot Case 2024-009612 proposed a new single-family house on a private drive in the Downtown and Eastside Historic District’s Foothills Escarpment Overlay District. The site’s 20-foot grade change triggered the code provision that allows a board-approved height increase on sloping sites. Staff recommended approval; the board approved the project and granted the requested 3 feet, 8 inches increase based on the site slope, with design details including bullnosed corners and at least 4-inch recessed window reveals as the applicant described.

428 San Antonio Street — detached garage and yard wall Case 2024-008779 proposed a new, detached territorial-style garage, a portal and new perimeter stucco walls. The applicant said colors and finishes will match the main house; the board approved the application with a condition that the new yard wall include brick coping consistent with existing walls on the property.

829A W. Manhattan Ave. — portal reduced and approved Case 2024-009652 asked for a portal on the primary (west) facade of an adapted garage/residence. Staff initially recommended denial because the portal would adversely affect the primary elevation that prior boards had preserved; the applicant agreed to reduce the portal depth. After discussion the board approved the portal with a required depth of 6 feet and a small inset from the garage corner; revised drawings were required.

715 Gregory Lane — casita and garage approval with conditions Case 2024-009615 proposed a small casita and garage and related site work. Neighbors raised concerns about how forward the casita sits relative to the street and about parking dimensions. Staff and applicant noted the lot and turnaround geometry constrained placement. The board approved the design and added the condition that the casita height not exceed 11 feet 8 inches, per the applicant’s revised submittal; zoning and parking concerns were noted as matters for zoning/building review rather than the historic board’s design review.

1302 Canyon Road — additions and garage Case 2024-009616 (listed on materials as 1302 Canyon Road) asked for modest additions and a new small detached garage. Staff recommended approval and the board approved the project as submitted.

Votes at a glance - 1010 Camino San Acacio (Case 2024-009653 HDRB): Motion to upgrade to "contributing" status — passed (mover: Member Bienvenu; seconder: Member Mather; roll-call yes votes recorded). - 1226 Cerro Gordo (Case 2024-009611 HDRB): Approved as submitted (parapet raised to 12 feet; portal approved). - 312 Pino Road (Case 2024-009323 HDRB): Approved with condition (revised door detail); split vote on some exceptions (motion passed, two members recorded as "No"). - 423 Camino Don Miguel (Case 2024-009651 HDRB): Approved (restoration to adobe core). - 1126 Camino delora (Case 2024-009612 HDRB): New-construction approval with height increase under section 14-5.2(d)(9)(c)(2)(f) for sloping site. - 428 San Antonio (Case 2024-008779 HDRB): Approved with condition that yard wall include brick coping to match existing walls. - 829A W. Manhattan (Case 2024-009652 HDRB): Portal approved with reduced depth (6 feet) and inset; revised drawings to staff. - 715 Gregory Lane (Case 2024-009615 HDRB): Approved with condition that casita height not exceed 11'8". - 1302 Canyon Road (Case 2024-009616 HDRB): Approved as submitted.

Who spoke (high-level) Speakers at the meeting included board members and staff, property agents and owners, and neighbors and preservation advocates. Repeated speakers in the record: Chair Rios (Madam Chair), Paul (staff member), Member Bienvenu (board member), Member Mather (board member), Member Aguilar Medrano (board member), Member Deignan (board member), Member Beachhead (board member), Daniel Strongwater (agent/applicant), Tim Curry (architect/online), Richard Martinez (applicant), Stephanie Benonato (resident/commenter) and others. Public commenters raised procedural concerns about archive access and asked the city to post agendas and materials on the new CivicClerk portal.

A note on process and precedent The board repeatedly discussed the ordinance standard that historic features be preserved when repair is feasible. That standard led to extended discussion at 312 Pino Road about whether a midcentury steel casement should be repaired rather than replaced; public commenters urged preservation where repairability was documented. Board members referenced prior decisions and noted how the board’s precedents inform whether exceptions should be granted for replacement versus restoration.

Ending The board closed the meeting after approving the items listed above and set its next meeting for Jan. 28, 2025. Several commenters asked staff to continue improving the public posting of agendas and archived materials on the city’s CivicClerk/Civic portal.