Board approves addition, window replacements and screens for Laurel Park Nash residence

The Sarasota Historic Preservation Board on Aug. 12 approved Certificate of Appropriateness 25-COA-07 for improvements at the Nash residence at 1920 Laurel Street in Laurel Park, including a rear addition to create a bathroom, replacement of exterior windows, and new custom wood-frame porch screens.

The property is locally designated (original designation 90-HD-07) and includes three individually designated components: the main structure (built 1925), a garage studio (c. 1940) and a guest cottage (c. 1940). The board’s approval was conditioned on compliance with building permit 2025013623 and final review by historic preservation staff and the director of the Development Services Department.

Ron Nash, the owner/applicant, told the board he and his wife purchased the property in June and have been working with staff to determine what changes are appropriate for a designated Laurel Park property. Nash said the rear addition will remove a small, unconditioned sunroom and extend the house to align with the existing deck edge, creating a master bedroom, bathroom and closet; the finished home will measure about 1,500 square feet heated when completed compared with an existing heated area the applicant estimated at 1,100–1,200 square feet.

Nash said most of the property’s original features remain and that the small studio and guest cottage are roughly 500–600 square feet each; the studio is planned for use as an artist’s workspace. Nash also said he plans to replace many windows with single-hung aluminum units (PGG or similar), keep custom wood screens on most windows, add impact-rated windows, and eventually install generators for the main house and guest cottage with no visibility from the street or alley.

Susan (Historic Preservation staff) told the board that exterior changes are expected to have limited visibility from the right-of-way and that the addition steps back from the original massing so that the historic form remains distinct. Board members commented that the addition’s scale and the proposed screens and windows are consistent with the applicable standards for alterations to designated properties.

The motion to approve — finding the proposed scope of work consistent with section 4-8.18(A) of the zoning code — included the condition that final construction plans comply with permit 2025013623, received by the building division July 18, 2025, and be subject to final staff and director review. The motion passed unanimously.

The approval allows the Nash family to proceed with permit submittals and construction reviews; final construction must conform to the permit documents and the conditions stated in the board’s motion.