HARB approves deconstruction plan for 1839 Marine Street building, requires inventory and city oversight

The Historic Architectural Review Board voted unanimously June 18 to allow demolition of the remaining portion of the circa-1839 house at 59 Marine Street (also referenced as 156 Avenida Menendez) — but only as a controlled deconstruction with strict conditions.

Board members approved a motion that permits removal of the unsafe structure but requires the owner to inventory, label and archive salvageable historic materials and to document the building photographically before and during deconstruction. The owner must pay for an independent, city-appointed engineer to oversee that process. The board recorded a unanimous roll-call vote: Grama McDonald, Paul Weaver, Catherine Duncan, Linda Potter and Brad Beach all voted yes.

Why the board acted: Staff and independent experts told the board the territorial-era core uncovered behind later additions is severely deteriorated after partial demolition and long-term neglect. Building official Richard “Buddy” Shaw told the board he had denied an emergency demolition permit because the issue is a regulatory…