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Board gives design feedback on proposed house at 30 Atlantic Street; concerns focus on entry visibility and fencing
Summary
At a workshop for a proposed new single‑family house at 30 Atlantic Street in Munjoy Hill, the Historic Preservation Board generally found the massing and scale acceptable but requested the applicant revise the side entry and fence so the front/primary entrance is visible from the street; staff also asked for more material samples and contextual images of the proposed masonry tile.
At a workshop April 15, the City of Portland Historic Preservation Board reviewed a proposed single‑family house for a vacant lot at 30 Atlantic Street in the Munjoy Hill Historic District and provided detailed design guidance to the applicant.
The applicant’s architect presented site plans, massing studies and elevations showing a front‑facing gable, a two‑story side entry projection, and a subordinate garage at the rear. The design proposes a masonry tile intended to read like cedar shingle on the primary façade and vertical cedar boarding for secondary elements.
Board members praised the proposal’s general fit for scale and massing but expressed consistent concerns that the building’s primary entrance reads as a side door partially hidden behind a proposed fence and gate. “The lack of a visible front door … would be an outlier,” a member observed, noting that the district’s vernacular typically shows front or at least clearly visible side entrances. Multiple members urged the applicant to revise the gate/fence and entry treatment so a passerby can identify the front entrance from the sidewalk.
Public commenters raised district‑scale issues: one urged new construction to provide multiple units rather than another single‑family house to preserve affordability and neighborhood character; others supported the design but recommended adjustments to the entry and additional material samples.
The board asked the applicant to provide clearer images of the proposed masonry tile installed elsewhere, consider lowering or recessing fences so the entry is visible, and return for a public hearing after the applicant adjusts the design in response to board guidance. Staff noted workshops are advisory and the project will need to return for formal hearing and final findings.
