Commission approves exceptions for repairs at Musser Dixon House, including foundation work and roof change

The Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for work at the Musser Dixon House, 715 East College Street, allowing staff-recommended exceptions for foundation replacement, removal of a small brick chimney and replacement of a metal roof with asphalt shingles.

Preservation staff described the property as a contributing resource in the College Green Historic District and said much of the detailing reflects the original owner's lumberyard business. Staff recommended approval “to replace this foundation wall” and to allow removal of a chimney that staff judged structurally unsound. Staff also relayed the owner’s condition, saying, “the owner says that there's no foundation at all under this brick chimney, so it sits on the floor and it's, sinking and pulling the roof in and down.”

Staff explained that the project will replace a failing alley-side foundation with concrete for structural stability while exposing a facing brick in locations that reflect the earlier pier pattern. On roofing, staff recommended asphalt shingles to match the rest of the property because earlier changes had already altered the roof; the staff report noted a documented exception in the guidelines for roof and foundation work in cases where historic materials are difficult to match.

Commissioner Wagner moved to approve the certificate through the exception described in the staff report; the motion carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The commission’s approval permits the foundation work and removal of the small, non-original chimney as described in the staff report and requires that visible facing brick be used where the original piers stood. The work will proceed under the conditions and exceptions noted in the staff report; no timeline for construction was announced at the meeting.