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Historic Preservation Commission approves alteration at 917 E. Jefferson, requires façade retain garage appearance or glazing
Summary
The Boise City Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for 917 East Jefferson Street with a condition that the front façade retain the appearance of the street-facing garage door (or incorporate glazing) to balance the owners’ interior remodeling needs and preservation concerns.
The Boise City Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday voted to approve application DRH24-00342, a certificate of appropriateness for 917 East Jefferson Street, with the condition that the front façade retain the appearance of the existing street-facing garage door or, alternatively, incorporate glazing to preserve the garage look while allowing interior alterations.
Staff recommended denial of the application, saying the proposal constituted an extensive alteration to the character-defining façade of a contributing residence and did not meet multiple guidelines and Secretary of the Interior Standards. Staff told the commission that option 2 — retaining the front porch and keeping the garage look — should be the choice for approval if any changes were to be allowed. "Staff continues to recommend denial," a staff member said during the hearing.
The applicants, represented by Lauren Allen of Hatch Design Architecture, said the interior configuration and a 2-foot-6-inch floor-level difference between the existing garage and the main house made keeping the garage door in place infeasible for the family’s planned multigenerational remodel. Lauren Allen said the owners intend to extend living space into the former garage so an interior floor and window lines would align; she testified that glazing the garage door was not a workable energy-code or interior-height solution. Homeowner David Reed told the commission he and his wife have lived at 917 East Jefferson for 27 years and said the remodel would allow multiple generations of the family — including his 99-year-old mother — to remain in the house. "If we leave a garage door where there is no longer a garage, that to me is inauthentic," Reed said.
Commission debate split around preservation precedent versus functional needs. Commissioner Malloy cited the Secretary of the Interior Standards and supported staff's recommendation for denial, arguing the garage door is now a historic evolution of the house and should be retained. Other commissioners, including Owens and Sales, said the applicants had made modifications responsive to previous feedback and that option 2 (retaining the porch while replacing the garage door with a windowed treatment that preserves the garage appearance) struck a workable balance. Commissioner Owens moved approval with the caveat that the front façade keep the garage look or use glazing as an option; Commissioner Moore seconded the motion.
On the final roll call for the approval motion, the tally was: Maroney — yes; Montoto — no; Malloy — yes; Parks — yes; Owens — yes; Sales — yes; Moore — yes. The motion carried and the certificate of appropriateness was approved with the stated condition.
The commission's decision leaves in place a requirement that exterior treatment preserve the visual character of the front façade while permitting interior reconfiguration to accommodate the owners' accessibility and multigenerational-living goals. Staff and the applicant did not specify an exact construction schedule at the hearing; any future submittals must follow standard staff review and subsequent administrative processes.
Votes at a glance for DRH24-00342: approved (motion to approve with condition), mover: Commissioner Owens; second: Commissioner Moore; tally — yes: Maroney, Malloy, Parks, Owens, Sales, Moore; no: Montoto.
