Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Adaptive Reuse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ARB approves one‑story addition at 706 Caroline Street for restaurant and two apartments
Summary
The Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board approved a 608‑square‑foot one‑story addition at 706 Caroline Street to enable adaptive reuse as a restaurant with two upper‑story apartments; the board found the addition subordinate to the historic building and accepted staff recommendations.
The Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board approved construction of a 608‑square‑foot, one‑story addition at 706 Caroline Street to support adaptive reuse of the building as a restaurant with two upper‑story apartments.
Staff said 706 Caroline is a contributing c.1824 Federal‑style commercial building and described the addition as set back one foot from the existing facade, designed to be removable in the future without damaging the historic structure. The addition includes paired casement windows on three sides, centered French doors on Caroline Street, an accessible entry on the west elevation, a 9‑foot‑4‑inch roof fascia subordinate to the storefront entablature, intersecting hipped roofs clad in standing‑seam metal, half‑round gutters and round downspouts. Materials specified include Marvin metal‑clad wood windows and painted wood trim (Akoya). Site changes include one additional 12‑foot painted metal light pole to match existing poles, five cast‑stone planters lining parking spaces, reconfiguration of an alley gate moved 13.5 feet farther back, and restoration of a previous opening with a new half‑light wood door for private upper‑story access.
The applicant, Joshua Grady, said the addition’s French doors are intended as a subordinate, occasional entry and the project improves a shorter, simpler ADA route from the rear. The team also proposed adding plantings on existing pole fixtures and planters within the parking lot. An architect from the project team attended to answer technical questions.
Danae Peckler, speaking for HFI, said HFI supports the rehabilitation and noted the project complies with the organization’s preservation easement and with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. Peckler observed there are no projecting metal vents at the facade or south elevation in the current plans.
Motion and vote: The ARB voted to approve COA 2506‑0127 for 706 Caroline Street as submitted. The motion carried 5–0.
Why it matters: The approval permits adaptive reuse of a contributing historic building in downtown Fredericksburg while the board found the design and materials to be compatible and subordinate to the existing historic fabric.
Next steps: The applicant may proceed with detailed construction documents and permitting; staff and the ARB will review final materials and site elements during permitting to ensure consistency with the approved design.
