Commission approves 1703 East Warm Springs addition after siding, window conditions

The Boise City Historic Preservation Commission approved an application for a two‑story rear addition and modified garage at 1703 East Warm Springs Avenue (DRH25‑0019) but attached conditions requiring the applicants to investigate and repair historic materials where feasible.

Commissioner Malloy moved to approve DRH25‑0019 with conditions including an investigation of existing siding and a repair‑first approach for windows; Commissioner Moore seconded. The roll call vote was five ayes and the motion carried.

Staff recommended denial because the city’s residential historic‑district guidelines generally favor detached garages; the staff report noted accessory buildings should be detached to preserve the district character. Richard, the planning presenter, explained the parcel backs to a canal and the existing small primary residence constrained options. The staff report concluded the existing attached garage is counter to the guidelines and therefore recommended denial.

The applicant’s architect, Amy Allgier, and owners, Camille and Jake Berrychoa, told the commission the property has had an attached garage since at least the 1940s (the applicants submitted a letter from a former resident attesting to long‑standing attachment). Allgier said approximately 25% of homes on the same side of Warm Springs already have attached garages and argued a detached garage on this lot would be infeasible because of a power pole, proximity to mature neighbor trees and limited width.

Architect Allgier showed neighborhood photos of attached garages set far back on lots and noted the proposed garage and addition will be set roughly 174 feet back from the street, making the attachment difficult to see from the public right of way. She also said the existing attached garage encroaches on the required five‑foot setback and that moving it further back would prevent usable access.

Neighborhood representative Sandra Herman raised technical concerns about lot coverage calculations and requested clearer, formal tree‑mitigation language rather than email notes. She also urged permeable paving and on‑site stormwater controls to address local flooding at nearby intersections.

Commission debate focused on two questions: whether the attached garage should be treated as contrary to the guidelines and how to handle historic materials. Commissioner Malloy said the attached garage appears to be historic and reminded the commission that changes made decades ago can themselves be historic. Malloy and others asked for a materials‑first approach: investigate and repair original siding (the applicants and a contractor said they found narrow wood clapboard under later coverings) and attempt to repair existing windows before replacing them. Malloy’s motion required investigation and repair first; if replacement was necessary, replacement had to be “in kind” (wood windows with matching dimensions and muntin patterns) and the addition could use distinct materials (e.g., Hardie board) to differentiate new work from the historic fabric.

Commissioners also discussed the district’s period of significance (noted during the hearing as 1910–1940) and survey evidence that the current garage likely post‑dates the original construction. Several commissioners said they did not want perfect preservation to foreclose practical rehabilitation of a vacant, deteriorated house.

The commission approved DRH25‑0019 with the following conditions summarized in the motion: investigate and repair original four‑inch wood clapboard siding where feasible (replace only damaged sections rather than full wholesale replacement), allow differentiated siding (Hardie) on the new addition, and repair existing windows first and replace in kind only if necessary. Staff and applicants were instructed to document the findings and final materials for the administrative record.

Less critical details: applicants emphasized cost and the house’s poor condition, stated their intention to restore the house and relocate their family there; a neighbor and family members urged support.