Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Post Construction Correction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Design Review Board asks owner to redesign front elevation for 225 East Oldham duplex after construction deviations
Summary
The board directed the owner of a recently built duplex at 225 East Oldham Avenue to submit a more substantial redesign after inspectors found the foundation higher than approved and front porches and stairs that increased the building’s visual scale; staff and the owner agreed on revisions including plantings and a revised staircase approach.
The board took up a post-construction review of a duplex at 225 East Oldham Avenue after final inspection identified significant deviations from the approved plans.
Staff reported the foundation height was increased beyond the approved 1-foot-8-inch elevation (reaching approximately seven feet at one corner), the front porch staircases had larger footprints than approved, and the rear patio design had been revised. The applicant and owner (Tay Cho) acknowledged oversights during construction, attributed to site conditions and unforeseen subsurface conditions, and indicated a willingness to comply with staff recommendations.
Staff recommended revisions to reduce the visual scale of the building: plant shrubs at foundation corners to screen height, concentrate porch height in a single central staircase with a landing and smaller steps to individual porches, replace pressure-treated screening with lattice or masonry, and stain or paint porch supports and railings. The owner said he would work with staff and the board’s guidance to produce revised drawings and a more compatible front elevation.
Because the changes relate to built work and substantial visual impacts, the board requested a clear redesign addressing foundation expression, stair configuration, and screening materials before any approval or continuing occupancy actions.
