Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes $215,000 preservation loan to reconstruct relocated Weber House at Delmont Drive
Summary
Council approved a $215,000, interest‑free, three‑year preservation revolving loan to support reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Bill and Betty Weber House relocated to 1514 Delmont Drive; the Raleigh Historic Development Commission recommended the funding and will pursue local landmark designation for the property.
Raleigh City Council on Jan. 7 authorized the use of the city’s preservation revolving loan fund to support rehabilitation of the Bill and Betty Weber House at 1514 Delmont Drive.
Rob Allen, vice chair of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission, presented the request on behalf of the commission and described the significance of the house, a modernist design by Bill Weber and George Matsumoto built in 1954. Allen said the Weber House was moved from 606 Transylvania Avenue to 1514 Delmont Drive in January 2024 after the new owners and preservation advocates worked to save the building from demolition. Parts of the house were deconstructed during the move due to logistics; other elements, including the distinctive glass geometry and the red chimney flues, were retained.
Allen said the RHDC reviewed the relocated and reconstructed house and unanimously found it retains the requisite design, materials and setting integrity to justify use of the city’s preservation funds and to pursue local landmark designation. Planning staff recommended authorization to prepare loan documents and a budget amendment to provide $215,000 from the preservation revolving loan fund.
Allen described the suggested loan terms: a three‑year, interest‑free loan secured by a deed of trust on the lot and subject to a preservation covenant; the applicant agreed to file an application for local landmark designation prior to loan execution and to perform work in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation.
Council members asked whether funds would remain available for other projects after this loan. Staff confirmed the preservation revolving loan fund total is $275,000 and that approving this $215,000 request would leave about $60,000 available for future requests. Allen and staff said use of the revolving fund has been infrequent historically; the fund has been used about half a dozen times since creation and outstanding loans were repaid in prior cycles.
A council member moved approval; the council voted to authorize staff to prepare loan documents and process a budget amendment for the $215,000 loan. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
Clarifying details: loan amount $215,000; loan term 3 years, interest free; loan secured by deed of trust; preservation covenant required; applicant to file historic landmark application prior to execution; preservation revolving loan fund total $275,000 and approximately $60,000 would remain after this loan.
The council approved the loan authorization with no recorded opposition.
