Landmarks Commission approves major historic alteration at Lucas House with conditions

The Bend Landmarks Commission on June 17 approved a major historic alteration request for the Lucas House at 42 Northwest Hawthorne Avenue (project ELHIS20240674), allowing an ADA ramp across the south façade, replacement of three exterior doors and sidelights, and the addition of a dormer, subject to conditions intended to protect historic masonry and visibility of character-defining features.

Michelle Patrick, associate planner in the planning division, told commissioners the property is a locally designated historic and cultural resource and “one of the oldest photos on the record” provided by the Deschutes Historical Museum shows its early significance. Patrick said the proposal is reviewed under the Bend Urban Area Comprehensive Plan (chapter 3), the Bend Development Code historic preservation code (chapter 10.20), and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Why it matters: The Lucas House is one of Bend’s earliest brick masonry buildings and the commission balanced accessibility and building-code driven egress changes against the need to preserve brickwork, original window proportions and the visible facade from the street.

Staff recommended approval for most elements and recommended denial of the proposed fence and gazebo relocations on the east side of the property. Patrick told the commission she supported the dormer, door replacements and an arbor replacement but urged additional detail on how the ramp would be built adjacent to the existing lava-rock foundation so masonry would not be damaged. She also recommended a final plan set that reconciles inconsistencies in the application materials.

Members of the applicant team said they were largely in agreement with staff and explained the functional drivers for some changes. Jay Charles Griggs, an owner and applicant, said the team was “90% in agreement” with staff and noted the east-facing door was being modified to meet ADA requirements. Co-owner and co-applicant Frankie Maduja said the proposed fence relocation and moving the gazebo are intended to address safety and property-protection concerns tied to anticipated changes from the Hawthorne Bridge/footbridge project and to improve on-site visibility for staff and patrons.

Designer Katie (last name not provided in the record) described the proposed approach for the east-facing opening: her plan is “to replace the whole opening to maintain the size of the width and the height of that opening and not disturb the brick,” and she said the intent was to keep the opening’s proportions and to mimic asymmetrical historic dividers where feasible.

Commission discussion focused on retaining historic character while allowing accessibility. Commissioners asked for clarification on existing vs. proposed sidelight and door dimensions and the applicant confirmed some existing features are aged and may not be original. Staff and commissioners asked that the preservation of any clearly historic sidelight be evaluated, and if replacement is necessary that documentation show why repair was not feasible.

The commission adopted a set of conditions that keep most staff recommendations while adjusting some items. Key conditions require: submittal of a final, accurate plan set before permits; manufacturer cut sheets and door drawings to confirm fit and historic compatibility; additional documentation demonstrating how the ADA ramp will be installed without damaging existing masonry; removal of incompatible nonhistoric materials on the onsite gazebo (including corrugated clear plastic siding) or, alternatively, submittal for its approval; and a revised site/landscape plan for staff approval showing proposed plantings and site changes that maintain visibility of the historic windows. The commission also encouraged, but did not require, that historically significant materials removed during work be preserved for potential reuse.

The commission voted to approve the application as conditioned. The record shows five commissioners participated in the deliberation and the motion carried.

The approval leaves several implementation steps for staff review: the final plan set and manufacturer details must be submitted and cleared before building permits are issued, and staff will administratively review subsequent details such as landings or small site elements that meet the conditions described by the commission.