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Commission approves rooftop patio and exterior renovations at 39 East William Street with conditions
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for renovations at 39 East William Street, authorizing a rooftop deck, exterior repaints, a new glass garage door and parking-lot modifications subject to coordination with public works and standard conditions.
The Delaware City Historic Preservation Commission on June 25 unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness (application 2025-1961) for renovations and a rooftop patio at 39 East William Street, allowing exterior repainting, new doors, a rooftop deck with external stairs and related parking-lot changes subject to specified conditions.
Planning staff described the building as a mid-20th-century structure (the Delaware County auditor lists a 1955 construction date) with limited historic architectural significance. Staff recommended approval with conditions that the applicant coordinate parking-lot modifications with the city’s public works division, require future tenants to submit applications for any patio furnishings and signs, and meet all local and state building codes.
Applicant John Cortes, who identified himself as the property owner and operator of local hospitality businesses, said the project will house a pub and wine-retail/tasting concept. “It’s gonna be a pub,” Cortes said. He described a plan that combines retail bottles with an experience model featuring tasting stations and staff-led wine tastings, plus a modest food menu.
Under the approved plan, the stucco will be repainted Dover white while the stone face will be cleaned, the existing awning will be replaced with Sunbrella or similar fabric, and an insulated glass upward-acting garage door will replace a traditional garage door. The rooftop deck would use concrete polymer pavers, metal bronze-colored railings and external stairs painted epoxy black; staff noted the applicant and the city’s building official, Jerry Warner, have discussed stair and rooftop logistics.
The application also proposes eliminating the North Union Street entrance, reconfiguring angled parking to front-in spaces, repainting the lot and installing parking blocks and an ADA-compliant space. Staff cautioned that any on-street parking additions require public works and Parking & Safety Commission approval and that at least a five-foot pedestrian clearance must be maintained around the building. Planning staff also noted that zoning in the B2 Central Business District does not require additional parking for the use.
The commission’s approval included the standard conditions listed by staff: coordinate parking-lot details with public works engineers, require tenant-level approvals for patio furnishings and signs, and construct in accordance with local and state codes. Staff specifically recommended that rooftop mechanical equipment be screened from ordinary public view; staff and commissioners discussed placing the rooftop condenser under the stairs or otherwise screening it to meet the zoning code’s requirement that rooftop mechanical equipment be screened from ordinary public view.
The motion approving the staff recommendation passed with a roll call in which all voting commissioners present voted yes. Staff told the applicant the commission would expect any changes to be submitted for administrative review or a subsequent application, and noted coordination with the chief building official is ongoing as the applicant refines details.
