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Board affirms contributing status for Russell House at 426 Delgado Lane
Summary
Staff recommended and the board confirmed the main residence at 426 Delgado Lane (the Russell House) remains contributing with the east facade primary; the guest house was designated non-contributing and two perimeter walls were designated non-contributing per staff's recommendation.
The Santa Fe Historic District Review Board on May 26 confirmed staff's recommendation that the Russell House at 426 Delgado Lane remain a contributing resource to its historic district, designating the east facade as the primary facade and treating the guest house as non-contributing due to age.
Staff presented the house history and documentation that led to the conclusion the main residence has not lost integrity; the guest house (built in 1992'93) was judged non-contributing because it post-dates the period of significance. Staff also recommended the small shed and three perimeter yard walls contribute to the property's historic character; the board refined the motion to treat the east perimeter wall as contributing and designate the south and west walls as non-contributing per the applicant's testimony about differing profiles.
The applicant, Gayla Bechtel, confirmed some windows were replaced in the 1990s and asked for clarity about which walls and windows were considered historic. Staff agreed additional research may be needed to clarify some historic window dates, but recommended retaining the contribution designation for the principal residence. A motion to adopt staff's recommendations passed on roll call.
Why it matters: the action preserves the property's status in the historic inventory and establishes which elements (primary facade, shed, walls) are treated as contributing resources for future review and permit considerations.
