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Commission approves rehabilitation plan for turn‑of‑century Queen Anne house after owner submits revised drawings
Summary
The commission approved a rehabilitation plan for a late‑19th/early‑20th‑century Queen Anne–style masonry dwelling on East Broad Street despite prior unpermitted work; staff imposed conditions emphasizing repair in kind and documentation of salvaged materials.
Staff reported that a Queen Anne–style masonry house on East Broad Street had experienced unauthorized exterior work and partial demolition, triggering a stop‑work notice and subsequent resubmission of revised plans. The applicant engaged a preservation‑experienced architect, Joel Mieses, to prepare revised drawings that emphasize in‑kind repair and restoration of character‑defining features.
Alex (staff) briefed the commission on the building's condition, noting that a 1950s rear addition had already been removed without a COA and that portions of the east elevation had been taken down; staff and building officials signed off on a stabilization permit while final CAR approval was sought. The plans submitted call for repair or in‑kind replacement of façade materials, retention and restoration of stained‑glass bay windows, tongue‑and‑groove porch decking, and careful repair or replication of columns, bases and balustrades.
Architect Joel Mieses told the commission he expects most historic fabric can be preserved but that some elements may require replacement following a condition inspection; he said the rear addition will be replaced in a similar location but will not be visible from the public right of way.
The commission approved the application with the staff's conditions, which require documentation and submittal of replacement material samples where repair is not possible and close coordination with staff during demolition‑period salvage and stabilization. Commissioners discussed the need for strong photographic documentation during construction and expressed concern that the contractor and owner follow the detailed conditions.
A motion to approve with staff conditions passed unanimously on the record. The staff will monitor progress and require submittals for any element found to be beyond repair prior to replacement.
