Florence City Design Review Board issues four certificates of appropriateness for demolitions and storefront and site work

The Florence City Design Review Board approved four certificates of appropriateness for demolition and alteration projects during a meeting that concluded with the board scheduling its next session for Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.

Board members approved demolition of a deteriorated 1930 house at 315 Covington Street and a commercial building at 262 West Chavez Street, approved a serving-window alteration at Crew Wine and Tap at 122 West Evans Street (with the certificate to include a possible matching window on the building’s other opening), and approved exterior, landscaping and parking-lot upgrades for First Citizens Bank at 276 South Irby Street.

The approvals move each project past design-review review; several approvals followed staff presentations that noted either a lack of historic significance or that the projects meet the city’s Unified Development Ordinance standards.

Staff told the board the house at 315 Covington Street is dilapidated and the owner is pursuing demolition through the city’s dilapidated property program; the house was built in 1930 and the Florence County Historical Commission issued a record of official action on July 14 finding no historic significance. Staff said the property has had problems with a persistent squatter, and removing that person will require police or code-enforcement involvement before demolition occurs. The board approved the certificate for the Covington property after a motion to “approve as submitted” and a second; the vote was taken by voice with all present answering in favor.

For 262 West Chavez Street, staff said the one-story commercial building was built in 1955, is zoned Central Business District and lies across from First United Methodist Church. The new owner intends to demolish and redevelop the parcel; staff noted the Historical Commission on July 14 found no historical significance, and staff provided photographs showing a recent fire at the structure. The board approved the demolition certificate after a motion and second and a voice vote in favor.

At 122 West Evans Street the applicant (Cru Wine and Tap) requested permission to install a serving window by converting an existing opening; staff said the applicant ultimately seeks a certificate that would permit replacing one and eventually both windows with service windows, adding fabric awnings and painting the façade an architectural bronze color. One board member declared a recusal for that item (recorded as “Mike”); the remaining members approved the certificate as submitted and explicitly included the potential mirror-image serving window on the other opening so the applicant would not need to return for a separate COA if both windows are later converted.

The board also approved site and building improvements for First Citizens Bank at 276 South Irby Street, a project staff said addresses several Americans with Disabilities Act deficiencies, removes impervious surface in favor of landscaping, refreshes paint colors (kept the same palette), adds dark bronze light fixtures and restripes the parking lot; staff said the work satisfies the Unified Development Ordinance design standards and brought the project to the board because of its scale and visibility.

None of the four items were accompanied in the record by roll-call vote tallies or named movers and seconders; the minutes show each motion was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Where the Historical Commission’s review was mentioned, staff reported the commission found no historical significance for the affected properties on July 14. The board closed each public hearing after staff and applicant remarks and approved the certificates that same day.

The board adjourned and noted its next meeting will be Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.