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Historic Zoning Commission recommends landmark designation for Merritt House after staff and preservation presentation
Summary
After a staff presentation and historical overview by Caroline Eller, the commission recommended the Merritt House and an associated brick building meet landmark criteria and forwarded a recommendation for historic designation and application of landmark design guidelines to planning and council.
The commission heard a research presentation and recommended that the Merritt House be designated a historic landmark and that existing historic landmark design guidelines be applied to the property.
Caroline Eller of the Metro Historical Commission outlined the Merritt House’s layered history, noting an earliest log core possibly dating to the late 18th century and later Italianate brick additions. Eller showed maps, tax records and archaeological findings (coal ash, early nails and glass) and said the house retains unusual intact 19th‑century fabric including tall windows, brackets and a denticulated cornice. She traced ownership to the Raines and Merritt families and described the house’s role in transforming the area from farmland to residential subdivisions.
Pablo David, representing AJ Capital, said the house had been moved a short distance on the parcel, is intended to be publicly accessible, and will be integrated into new development with a roughly 2‑acre lawn dedicated to Metro Parks and privately maintained.
Staff recommended the commission find that the property meets criteria (sections 1 and 3 of 17.3612) and to recommend adoption of existing historic landmark design guidelines. A commissioner moved and the commission approved forwarding the recommendation to planning and council.
Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the planning commission and Metro Council for final action; staff and the applicant will continue coordination on maintenance and public‑access plans.
