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Zoning board grants floodplain variance for historic 1315 Mailer Ave building to proceed with rehabilitation
Summary
LACE Building Affiliates LP received a variance to waive the building‑grade elevation requirement for historic buildings at 1315 Mailer Avenue, allowing rehabilitation work to proceed under a preservation exemption; the board approved the request 3‑0.
The Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance allowing LACE Building Affiliates LP to waive the building‑grade elevation requirement for historic structures at 1315 Mailer Avenue in the city’s LI (light industrial) zone.
Engineer David Johns represented the applicant and said the request covers existing historic buildings on the site; the applicant supplied a review letter from the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office and cited FEMA guidance that allows variances for historic buildings where elevation requirements would damage historic integrity.
Board members considered the federal and state historic‑preservation guidance and the applicant’s statement that planned work would preserve the buildings’ historic character. With staff concurrence that the state historic‑preservation office had reviewed the proposal, the board voted 3‑0 to grant the variance, enabling the rehabilitation work to proceed under the conditions discussed with historic‑preservation staff and FEMA guidance.
The board’s approval applied to the existing historic structures and did not affect elevation requirements for new construction on the site.
