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Council overturns HARC denial, allows concrete porch at 1608 South Church Street
Summary
After an appeal, the city council approved a certificate of appropriateness to reconstruct the front porch at 1608 South Church Street using concrete, based on new documentation submitted by the applicants that staff said was not before the Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC).
The Georgetown City Council approved an appeal of a HARC decision and granted a certificate of appropriateness to replace a removed porch at 1608 South Church Street with concrete, reversing the HARC denial on materials grounds.
Why it matters: The property is a "high priority" historic resource in Georgetown's Old Town historic overlay. The applicants argued the original porch was concrete and asked permission to reconstruct using concrete rather than pressure-treated wood. City planning staff told council they believed the new documentation provided by the applicants after the HARC hearing supported concrete as the historic material.
Background and evidence: Planning staff said the HARC hearing in November lacked certain material evidence the applicants later provided. The applicant, Steve Mayer, submitted a letter from a former resident—s daughter stating the porch had historically been concrete and presented photographs showing concrete substrate beneath the removed porch. "It was in fact concrete," Mayer told council, urging approval of the appeal.
Council and staff analysis: Staff had previously concluded that removing the deteriorated (non-original) wooden porch would not harm the building—s contribution to the district and noted the house retains historic integrity in its form and architectural features. At HARC the vote on replacement materials lacked consensus; staff told the council that had the additional documentation been available earlier, HARC might have reached a different outcome.
Public process and final action: The council opened the public hearing, received no signed public speakers on the appeal itself, and then voted to approve the addition of the concrete porch. One councilmember noted a preference for applicants to bring full documentation to HARC to avoid appeals but said that, given the new material supplied and staff—s recommendation, she would support approval. The motion to allow the concrete porch passed by council vote and the certificate of appropriateness will be issued consistent with that decision.
Implications: The council—s decision authorizes the use of concrete for the reconstructed porch at 1608 South Church Street; other proposed features that were out of scope for the appeal (for example, stair wing walls) remain subject to HARC review or were separately addressed.
