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HARB approves emergency removal and CMU reconstruction for collapsing wall at 7 Aviles Street
Summary
The board approved demolition of a failing south wall at 7 Aviles Street, finding rot and termite damage created an emergency; it required the reconstructed wall to have a washed joint/smooth finish and be painted to match existing stucco using an approved finish.
The Historic Architecture Review Board on Feb. 19 approved an emergency demolition and reconstruction at 7 Aviles Street after staff and the applicant presented evidence that the south wall is deteriorated, with termite and rot damage and a risk of collapse. Applicant Chad Swaniger and consulting architect Frank Ringhofer described the wall as a wood-frame/stucco assembly with crumbling lath and structural failure, and staff recommended either approval or continuance pending material verification.
Board members and visiting contractors agreed the wall posed a safety hazard and recommended prompt action. The board voted to allow demolition and reconstruction in concrete masonry unit (CMU) block with a floated/washed joint to approximate stucco texture and to paint the wall with a mineral-based (Kyme/Keim-style) finish to match the existing colors; any existing window openings must be maintained. The applicant and architect described construction constraints (8 inches between buildings) and discussed practical approaches (floating joints, acrylic/textured coatings) for achieving a compatible finish.
Why it matters: The board treated the proposal as an emergency demolition given imminent structural failure and safety risks to adjacent properties; the conditions require the reconstructed wall to visually match the existing stucco finish where visible.
