Commission approves demolition for deteriorated Murray Street house; asks applicant to soften garage rear

The Historic New Smyrna Beach Preservation Commission voted Dec. 11 to approve demolition of a contributing, deteriorated house at 304 Murray Street, citing an engineer's finding of termite infestation, decayed foundation piers and other structural deficiencies that staff said made rehabilitation impractical.

Staff summarized Joseph Hillier's report, which documented ongoing wood‑destroying organism activity, mixed brick and wood piers in decay, supplemental CMU blocks and mechanical jacks used as temporary measures, and significant floor slope and rim‑joist damage. Staff concluded repairs would be cost‑prohibitive and recommended demolition with conditions including an archival record and submission of replacement design drawings for commission review.

Applicant Alan Forbes told the commission he and his family discovered the home's deterioration during inspections and moved to a plan for a new two‑story house with a detached garage and an accessory unit. "After we got done with all the inspections, it really opened our eyes that this was not a property that we could rehab," Forbes said. Neighbors provided mixed testimony: nearby resident Teresa Bowen said she was "concerned about the size and the two‑story" nature of the replacement, while residents at 305 Murray said a two‑story home would fit the block.

The commission followed the required two‑step procedure, first finding the building historically significant (5–0) and then approving demolition based on condition and staff recommendations (5–0). Commissioners added a condition asking the applicant to return with design refinements to reduce massing on the rear detached garage elevation — options could include additional windows, architectural modulation or landscaping to lessen the wall's visual impact. Staff noted the applicant must return with final elevation and site plans for review during the permitting process.