Commission asks for fuller specifications on proposed repairs at Beckley House in Reisterstown

The Landmarks Preservation Commission declined to approve the applicantas current set of exterior repair and replacement plans for the Beckley House (202 Main Street, Reisterstown), and asked the property owner to return with detailed elevation maps and product specifications before the commission will act.

Staff presented a multi‑part proposal that included roof membrane replacement, repair or replacement of standing seam metal roofing, replacement of damaged eaves/soffits/rakes/fascia (staff suggested painted wood or smooth‑textured composite instead of metal coil stock), replacement of gutters and downspouts with 6‑inch half‑round galvanized gutters and 4‑inch downspouts, and repairs to windows plus replacement of multiple second‑story vinyl windows.

The commission discussed the buildingashistoric significance (the house dates to c.1779 and is a county final landmark), the presence of standing seam metal in historic photos, and the need for clearer documentation of what is original, what is later, and what precisely the owner proposes now. Commissioners requested explicit material samples and specification sheets for roof panels (profile and seam height), windows proposed for replacement, and the style and hanging hardware for any shutters. Staff and commissioners said the 2019 approvals should be reconciled with current proposals and that the applicant should submit a clear elevation‑numbered resubmittal showing exactly which elements will be repaired in kind and which will be replaced.

Property representative Brendan Schreiber said the owners purchased the building with the Reisterstown Improvement Association as an anchor tenant and that financing and underwriting after COVID delayed completion of the exterior work. He said he and the owners are willing to provide the requested product cut sheets and more detailed elevation‑by‑elevation documentation, and that some preservation‑grade metal options are being explored to achieve a visually compatible result.

Commissioner Ed Hord moved to deny the current application and ask the applicant to resubmit complete detail drawings, product specifications, and clear elevations; Commissioner Chris Parts seconded. The roll call vote was in favor of the resubmission request. Staff will provide guidance to the applicant on the documentation needed for an eventual conditional approval and noted the 2019 approvals remain a helpful reference but must be reconciled to the current scope.