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Commission approves certificate of appropriateness for 556 Ellen Way
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for exterior wall and hardscape work at 556 Ellen Way in the Beverly Green historic district, allowing reconstruction of damaged masonry walls, relocation of a trash enclosure (with reuse of decorative breeze block) and replacement of driveway and walkway materials to better match historic patterns.
The Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve an application to replace damaged property line walls, remove non-historic fences and update drive and walk surfaces at 556 Ellen Way, a contributing resource in the Beverly Green historic district.
Applicant representative Michael Ynan told the commission the project will replace large portions of deteriorated concrete masonry unit walls on the east and west sides of the property, relocate a concrete trash enclosure about 15 feet to improve access, reuse the decorative breeze-block panels in the rebuilt walls, and replace an added circular driveway with a concrete pattern that echoes the house’s historic soldier-brick details. "Our goal is to improve site functionality without compromising the historic integrity of the property," Ynan said.
Vice Chair Jack Levine, speaking after the presentation, said he had visited the property and supported the work. "This will be a huge improvement and an absolute gain for the neighborhood," Levine said, adding that sympathetic front-yard improvements often spur additional neighborhood reinvestment.
Commissioners raised no formal objections; a motion to approve the certificate was moved and seconded and passed on a voice vote while Chair Laram recused herself from the item because she owns the home at issue. The commission’s approval allows the applicant to proceed with the scope described in the application, subject to any permit or building-code review outside the commission’s certificate authority.
The approval was taken during the regular meeting convened June 1; the project materials in the commission’s backup packet include photographs, design renderings and proposed block types and colors that the applicant said will be used to match existing historic fabric. The commission’s action was a certificate approval only and does not authorize demolition beyond what was described in the application or final building permits.
The next procedural step is for the applicant to obtain any required building permits and coordinate final details with staff; the chair was recused for the vote and Vice Chair Levine presided over the item.
