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Board approves partial demolition, foundation replacement and relocation of house at 24 McCarris Street
Summary
The board approved a partial demolition and foundation replacement for the contributing building at 24 McCarris Street, allowing the owners to lift and reposition the house on the lot, rebuild the foundation, and reconstruct the chimney using as much original material as feasible.
The Historic Architecture Review Board voted Aug. 21 to approve a partial demolition and foundation replacement for the contributing residence at 24 McCarris Street, located within the Fuller Ward Park Residential National Register Historic District. The board’s approval allows the owners to raise the house, replace its failing foundation, move the structure approximately 7–8 feet to the west, and to reconstruct the chimney using salvaged material where possible.
Why it matters: 24 McCarris Street is a contributing early-20th-century house within a local historic neighborhood. The owner had sought full demolition after a contractor found more extensive deterioration than earlier assessments indicated; the board and applicant instead worked toward a partial-demolition approach that retains the house’s historic street-facing character while addressing structural failure.
What the board approved: The board’s motion authorized lifting the building for foundation replacement, repositioning the house on the lot to improve centering and allow a new rear garage/addition, and setting a required finished floor elevation to provide modest flood resilience. The board specifically required the applicant to attempt to salvage and reuse as much of the original chimney material as feasible, and to rebuild the chimney on the interior (living-room) side of the plan so it is visible on the street-facing elevation, if practicable. The board also approved a window reconfiguration proposal to maintain the visual pattern of openings at the front elevation.
Applicant presentation: Counsel and the contractor told the board that field conditions discovered during initial work showed the original foundation could not be saved and that lifting the building was necessary to replace structural elements. The owner committed to reconstructing street-facing elements so the building continues to read as a single historic house from the sidewalk.
Vote and conditions: The HARB approved the application on a roll-call vote. Conditions recorded in the motion include: finished floor elevation set at 9 feet plus 1 foot of freeboard (recorded in the motion as 10 feet), reuse of chimney material where feasible and reconstruction of the chimney on the living-room side, and that final window and facade details be implemented as shown on the submitted elevation drawings. The board also requested that skirting and underfloor ventilation details be appropriate for the period and compatible with surrounding houses.
What’s next: The applicant will proceed to lift the structure and replace the foundation under the COA. Staff will record the approved elevation and facade requirements on the permit and coordinate any necessary archaeological review for subsurface work.
