Landmark Commission debates canopy, rooftop addition for True Heart building; final outcome unclear in transcript

The Galveston Landmark Commission on July 7 considered Case 25LC02, a rehearing on a request for a certificate of appropriateness for work at the True Heart Built & Company building at 21220 Second Street, including a third‑floor rooftop addition, new windows and a wooden/metal sidewalk canopy.

Staff told the commission the project "partially conforms to design standards" and recommended approval of the rooftop addition and window changes with conditions intended to differentiate new work from historic fabric. Staff recommended using 1‑over‑1 windows to mark new openings, an 18‑inch setback for the third‑floor addition if feasible (or added visual detailing such as a decorative brick course), preservation repairs where feasible, and noted that a license to use the public right‑of‑way will be required before canopy construction.

The applicant, Brax Easterwood, focused his presentation on the canopy. He said the design would minimize obscuring historic polychrome brickwork, showing precedents downtown and describing a low‑profile canopy roughly 10 inches deep. Easterwood said the support columns would be reduced to 4 inches and that a flush framing detail would avoid a beam hanging below the canopy decking. He also said bricks in the impacted band…