Landmark Commission approves canopy and balcony alterations at 201 20th Street

The Galveston Landmark Commission on Dec. 1 voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for alterations to the historic building at 201 20th Street, including rebuilding and raising an existing canopy and modifying doors along the alley.

Daniel, a city staff member, told commissioners that 15 public notices were sent and none were returned and that staff finds the proposed canopy and handrail conform to the design standards. "The Sanborn maps indicate that the building has had a canopy almost since it was built," Daniel said, and staff recommended approval with specific conditions 1–3 and standard conditions 4–8. He noted that a license to use the public right of way will be required as a condition of approval.

Burax Easterwood, the project's architect, said the property had been vacant for an extended period before the Cordrays purchased it and that the plan is to repurpose the first floor for retail and upper floors for apartments. Easterwood said the proposal would raise the balcony roughly 14 inches to make it more usable and would add a simple metal rail to match neighboring buildings, while preserving the main facades. "It actually right now ... is on a pretty good slant, so it's really not that usable," Easterwood said, adding that the team will keep the existing garage door width on the alley rather than narrowing it.

The proposal calls for metal beams to support the canopy while using existing columns, aligning the rebuilt canopy closer to the bottom of the second-story windows and nearer the height of an adjacent building's balcony. Staff described the handrail as a simple metal design that would not visually overwhelm the facade and said the alley-facing doors are inset and minimally visible from the main street.

After the public hearing closed with no members of the public speaking, a commissioner moved to approve the staff recommendation; another commissioner seconded, and the motion passed with no opposition recorded. The approval includes the staff conditions and the requirement to obtain a license to use the public right-of-way before installing the canopy.

The commission did not record any public opposition and directed that permit-related conditions in the staff report be met before construction proceeds. The approved work will next proceed through the required permitting process and the license for right-of-way use.