Commission denies Hardie siding request for contributing house at 1711 Post Office

The Galveston Landmark Commission denied a certificate of appropriateness request on Monday, May 5 for replacing exterior wood siding with smooth cement (Hardie) siding on parts of the contributing property at 1711 Post Office.

Daniel (staff member) explained that the house was classified as low/noncontributing in the 2015 historic-sites survey but was reclassified as medium and contributing after 2016 restoration work that removed nonhistoric additions and restored the front facade. Staff told the commission the east and west side facades are location C (less-visible secondary walls) and the south facade is location D (rear facade not typically visible from the street). While locations C and D allow more flexibility, staff concluded that the use of cementitious Hardie siding on a contributing structure is not compatible and recommended denial. Staff recommended retaining or replacing with wood siding matching existing dimensions and visual appearance; administrative approval for matching wood was noted as feasible.

Applicant Shannon Graber told the commission that visible sides of the house had been restored with wood and that the request now concerns the rear of the house and roughly one-third of the west side, areas she said are not historic wood and contain a mix of plywood and nonhistoric materials. Graber cited storm and sun damage, termite history (not currently active), energy-efficiency and maintenance costs; she said repainting had cost roughly $23,000 since 2016 and that Hardie siding would offer longer maintenance cycles, moisture and pest resistance and improved durability during storms.

Neighbor Doug Coop spoke in support, saying the house is well maintained and noting a recent nearby approval (April 9) for Hardie on the rear of 1721 Post Office and 11 vinyl windows, which he suggested as precedent. Graber said the east side gaps have been infilled and repainted and asked the commission to permit Hardie on the rear and the back portion of the west side only.

A commissioner moved to deny case 25LC019 "based on staff recommendations." The motion was seconded and passed; the transcript records that two notices had been returned in favor and that six notices were sent, but it does not include a roll-call vote tally.

The commission’s denial means the applicant’s request to replace the specified portions of siding with Hardie was not authorized; staff noted wood siding of the same dimension and appearance can be administratively approved for compatible replacement on a contributing structure.

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