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Commission approves rear addition at 38 Pelham Street, defers full decision on window replacements
Summary
The commission approved a rear addition for the contributing property at 38 Pelham Street but split the application and continued consideration of window restoration/replacement pending a more detailed window inventory and ages for individual sashes.
The Newport Historic District Commission voted July 8 to approve a three‑story rear addition at 38 Pelham Street but continued the portion of the application concerning window restoration and replacement so the applicant can supply a more detailed, window‑by‑window inventory. Turner Scott, representing Wesley Property and Holding LLC, told the commission that a Heritage Restoration survey found most sash were roughly 20 years old and that the building has a small number of older Victorian windows that the applicant proposed to restore and retain.
Commissioners expressed concern that the Heritage report omitted clear ages for many windows and did not include sufficient photographic documentation. Commissioners said they would prefer to salvage older, historic sashes for prominent front elevations and to replace other openings only with traditionally constructed wood sash on contributing buildings where restoration is not possible.
The applicant said the building has extensive deferred maintenance and structural issues; a structural engineer’s letter was filed and the building department had approved temporary stabilization. The commission accepted supplemental exhibits and then split the application: the part addressing windows was continued to permit a fuller window inventory (including ages and condition) and the part addressing the rear addition was approved as designed, with citation of Newport standards for contributing properties.
The approval of the rear addition was recorded with the commission citing Newport standards 17.80.060 A1–7 for contributing properties. The commission directed the applicant to file a more granular window survey with ages and photographs before the continued hearing; commissioners suggested prioritizing restoration of salvageable sashes and consolidating any restorable windows onto the Palm Street (front) elevation where appropriate.
Why this matters: the split decision attempts to balance a preservation preference for retaining historic fabric with the need to stabilize and make safe a building that the applicant described as in poor structural condition.
Next steps: the applicant will provide a more detailed window inventory and photographs and return to the commission on the continued windows item; the rear‑addition approval may proceed subject to any building‑department permits and conditions noted in the staff report.
