Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves small rear addition at landmarked Ashland Avenue house with window and material conditions
Summary
The Preservation Commission unanimously approved a 95‑square‑foot two‑story rear addition at the landmarked gable‑front house at 1505 Ashland Avenue, requiring aluminum‑ or fiberglass‑clad windows with simulated divided lights, adjustments to a large dining‑room window proportion to better match existing front windows, and a second‑floor casement with a single vertical muntin.
The Evanston Preservation Commission unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness for a modest two‑story rear addition at 1505 Ashland Avenue, a landmarked 1877 gable‑front house. Commissioners and the project team discussed roof pitch, visibility from the public way, and window proportions before attaching design conditions intended to protect the house’s landmark character while allowing the homeowners additional living and working space.
Why it mattered: The property is individually landmarked; commissioners focused on how an addition set back 20 feet could be compatible with the front gable‑front façade. The addition is small in footprint (about 95 square feet) but visible from oblique public views, so details such as window proportions and trim were emphasized.
What the approval requires: Conditions include matching exterior trim details to tie the addition to the main house, using aluminum‑clad or fiberglass‑clad windows with simulated divided lights closely matching the landmark’s front windows for the west‑facing elevations, narrowing the large dining‑room window so its head/sill align more closely with existing fenestration, and installing a second‑floor fixed or casement window with a single vertical muntin to harmonize with other openings.
Commission comment: Commissioners described the proposed massing as ‘‘quiet’’ and compatible with nearby midcentury and vernacular houses, but several asked the applicants to adjust window heads and proportions to reduce the perceived scale when viewed from the street. The design team agreed to revise window head heights and to provide the additional trim detail requested.
Outcome and next steps: The motion to approve the COA with the specified conditions passed unanimously. The applicant will submit final drawings reflecting the conditions when applying for building permits.
