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Commission approves rear addition and four‑bay carriage house at 708 Market Street after neighbors raise parking and dumpster concerns
Summary
The commission approved rear additions and a new four‑bay carriage house at the Gilchrist House, subject to staff conditions including filling a Juliet balcony and a tree‑replacement requirement. Neighbors pressed concerns about on‑street parking and dumpster management; staff confirmed zoning requires two spaces per unit and the applicant provides eight spaces.
The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission on Feb. 12 approved rear additions and a new four‑bay carriage house at 708 Market Street (the Gilchrist House), imposing conditions that include compliance with staff recommendations, filling a second‑floor Juliet balcony with siding and replacing a mature tree removed for the project.
Staff described the project as an addition to a 2‑story, Queen Anne–influenced dwelling and proposed a 1,271.5‑square‑foot carriage house at the rear of the property with a new gravel driveway, permeable pavers, and a six‑foot electronic swing gate recessed from South 7th Street. Staff also noted that a roughly 14‑inch tree would be removed and recommended conditions on roofing materials, siding finish, driveway permits and a requirement that removed materials be disposed of properly.
Neighbors during public comment urged the commission to consider parking and refuse impacts on narrow South 7th Street. Jenna Alt Holcomb, who lives at 17 South 7th Street, said: "I'm very concerned about having only 1 parking space per unit at the Gilchrist property," warning that limited street width makes passage of larger vehicles difficult and that a communal dumpster could worsen congestion.
The applicant, Jack Calderon, said the site includes eight parking spaces (four in the garage and four on site) and the project intends to use the existing driveway cut rather than create a new curb cut. Planning staff Brian Chambers confirmed the zoning requirement and scope: "Two spaces per unit would be required. So we're providing 8," and the project therefore meets the parking code as presented.
Commissioners questioned gate height, fencing materials and whether the proposed chain‑link would be replaced; the applicant agreed to use wrought‑iron fencing in viewable areas and to work with staff on evergreen plantings to screen side‑yard fences. Staff agreed to work with the applicant on choosing an approved replacement tree, and commissioners included a tree‑replacement condition in the approval.
Commissioner Steven Sulke moved to approve the project with staff conditions 1–9, plus a condition to fill the Juliet balcony with solid siding and a tree replacement requirement; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The approval is conditioned on the staff report requirements and code compliance; any appeal must follow the city’s appeal timeline.
