The Denison Historic Preservation Board voted to approve both a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the current structure at 201 West Main and a separate certificate to construct a two-story replacement, the board decided during a meeting that included a public hearing and applicant testimony.

Staff presented the application, saying the building dates to about 1876 but has been altered repeatedly and is listed as non-contributing in the 1983 National Register nomination and in subsequent surveys. "The building is historic. It is non contributing, according to the 1983 National Register nomination," staff said, and noted the applicant supplied a redevelopment plan, a structural engineer’s statement and other required materials.

At the public hearing, applicant Don Day described the remaining east brick wall as bulging and structurally unsound and said he had been advised the wall could not be salvaged. "That wall is in very bad shape. It's bulging in the middle," Don Day said, adding that engineers had concluded it could not be salvaged and asking the board to allow demolition so he could rebuild a structure similar in appearance to the original.

Board members acknowledged the site’s history but said the building’s physical integrity had been lost by earlier removals and renovations and that, based on the documentation and engineering reports, demolition was appropriate. Members discussed efforts to salvage whole bricks where possible and staff confirmed temporary fencing would be placed during demolition and that state right-of-way requirements must be addressed for any street closures.

For the replacement, staff described proposed elevations intended to echo the original building’s massing and fenestration while making clear the work is new construction. The applicant said the new building footprint would match the historic footprint (described in the application as approximately 120 by 24 feet), with storefront commercial space on the first floor and leased residential units above. The applicant also confirmed the storefront frames would be bronze aluminum and the second-floor windows would be aluminum. Board members recommended design refinements such as restoring a storefront bulkhead (kick plate) and using a one-over-one window pattern where historically appropriate.

Chelsea McDuffie moved to approve the COA for demolition and Mike Zapata seconded; the board voted and the motion passed. John Ayers moved to approve the COA for new construction and Chelsea McDuffie seconded; that motion also passed.

Next steps noted at the meeting include coordinating with state officials for any required right-of-way closures during demolition and moving forward with the permitting and construction process. Staff and the applicant indicated demolition and initial site work could begin in a matter of months pending required clearances.