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Owner built retaining wall without permit at North Celina; architect proposes buttresses, bond beam and on-site drainage
Summary
The Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board on June 26 reviewed an after-the-fact concrete-block retaining wall and rear deck at 916–918 North Celina Street that was built without a permit; architect Michael Garrity presented plans to stabilize the wall with a reinforced bond beam and buttresses and to route drainage to daylight on-site.
The Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board on June 26 reviewed an after-the-fact concrete-block retaining wall and rear deck at 916–918 North Celina Street that was constructed without design drawings or a permit. The contractor received a stop-work order last year; the owner then retained architect Michael Garrity to design remedial work.
Garrity said the contractor had built a concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall behind two buildings to address a failing historic stone retaining wall and chronic stormwater infiltration. Garrity presented drawings showing the existing CMU wall with vertical rebar grouted solid where present and described the remediation as adding a reinforced bond beam and 12-inch reinforced CMU buttresses to stabilize the structure and tie into existing masonry.
On drainage, Garrity said the intent is to keep stormwater on the owner’s property and daylight the outlet at grade toward Celina Street; he acknowledged code enforcement will have a role in approving the drainage approach. “We’re making the best solution that we can with the restrictions of this landlocked property,” Garrity said. Board members emphasized the need for a code-compliant daylighting or dry-well solution; one member said city code prohibits draining onto neighboring properties.
The owner, James Shetty, told the board the design will reuse some salvaged brick from his renovations for permeable brick court areas laid in sand; board members expressed concern about long-term durability of salvaged brick as pavers but welcomed the effort to reuse historic material. Garrity said the plan also includes buttresses, a bond beam, and a revised drainage outlet to daylight on-site.
The board provided comments and signalled conceptual support for the stabilization approach, while noting outstanding issues — specifically drainage details subject to code enforcement approval, tree root impacts, and long-term durability of salvaged-brick paving. The review was advisory; remediation and any final approvals will be coordinated with code enforcement and building authorities.
