Board disapproves exterior kitchen vent and EIFS work at 509 East Main Street

The Board of Architectural Review voted July 23 to disapprove the exterior kitchen vent system and recent stucco work at 509 East Main Street, a significant structure in the Bell Court Historic District now operating as the Campbell Club.

Historic Preservation staff detailed a timeline of approvals and violations to the board, telling members the property had received a COA on Oct. 16, 2024 for a small makeup air opening but the as-built installation included a much larger vertical metal duct and a tall "tuba-like" exhaust stack that was installed without a permit and without the board's approval. Staff also reported that the rear garage/kitchen elevation was covered with EIFS (exterior insulating and finishing system) and stucco in a way that obscured an architectural datum and trim that previously articulated the elevation.

"The ductwork and kitchen vent as built were all constructed in violation of the certificate of appropriateness approved by the Board at 10/16/2024, and was completed without an H1 process action," Ms. Armstrong told the board. Staff concluded the ductwork was "large and highly visible, intrusive and not compatible" with the historic house and recommended disapproval of the installed vent system, the proposed schematic screening and the EIFS/stucco as applied.

At the hearing the applicant was not present. Neighbors and a nearby council member spoke about the sequence of events and the visual impact. Marcy Deaton, a neighborhood resident who had documented the construction, said the larger vent and its enclosure had been built immediately after the October approval and were operating for several months. "They built it from November to February," Deaton told the board, adding that the project appeared to have proceeded without sufficiently exploring on-site alternatives.

After hearing staff and public comment, a board member moved to accept staff's recommendation to disapprove all elements of the currently installed vent system, the proposed screening schematic, and the stucco over the EIFS on the garage/kitchen wall as constructed. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

What this means: The disapproval requires the applicant to address the violation and work with staff to propose a solution consistent with design guidelines. The record notes prior COA action (Oct. 16, 2024) and that building inspectors and health/mechanical officials had raised requirements that affected vent placement; however, staff told the board that a properly designed and permitted solution must follow HPO and BOAR standards.

Next steps: Staff will notify the property owner of the disapproval and outline corrective steps. The board included the staff packet of e-mails, prior COA documents, the notice of violation and related correspondence in the record.