Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Rehabilitation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic Resources Board approves consistency finding for Oak Court mixed-use renovation with consultant conditions
Summary
The board accepted staff and consultant recommendations and approved a determination of consistency for a renovation of the Oak Court commercial block, including restoration of Dutch doors, replacement of hardscape with hexagonal pavers, and removal of non-historic elements.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Resources Board on July 21 accepted staff recommendations and adopted a resolution finding that proposed exterior and site renovations at Oak Court Commercial Block are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, subject to consultant-recommended conditions.
The project covers Buildings A and B (constructed 1937–1941 and identified as locally significant examples of Colonial Revival architecture) and a non-period Wagner Apartment Building at the rear (1973). The scope includes rehabilitating shutters and a prominent bay window, removing an existing exterior stair, inserting a new interior access point to a lower-level residential unit, converting select rear doors to frosted windows, repairing damaged brick, replacing non-historic wrought-iron gate elements, redoing existing pebbled concrete hardscape with hexagonal pavers matching adjacent La Rambla property, partial removal of a north property-line fence, and landscape work.
Why it matters: The Oak Court buildings are listed in the inventory under California Register criterion 3 for architectural significance. The board’s finding, with consultant conditions, supports a rehabilitation approach that preserves character-defining Colonial Revival features while allowing needed functional changes, including an ADA bathroom conversion and improved multiunit access.
Consultant and staff findings: The project's Phase 2 consultant found consistency with Standards 1 and 10 outright, and with draft conditions the project can meet the remaining applicable Secretary standards. Staff and the applicant agreed to conditions including restoring the original Dutch doors rather than replacing them with non-historic designs, retaining and reinstalling existing shutters if found in storage, avoiding additional Spanish tile on stair risers, specifying preservation techniques for masonry and wood cleaning on project plans, and selecting exterior lighting compatible with historic plans.
Board discussion and vote: Board members praised the proposal’s improvements to the streetscape and the restoration of key windows and doors. The board approved the staff resolution incorporating the consultant's recommendations; the vote was unanimous among members recorded present.
Next steps: The project will move to the Planning Commission for review of related land-use approvals. Staff will confirm details such as the sidewalk/encroachment approach for planters that currently encroach into public right-of-way and finalize technical preservation specifications for the construction documents.
Ending: The board thanked the applicant for incorporating consultant recommendations and closed the item.
