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Board urges revised plans after extended debate over paint vs. exposed brick at 13 South Division Street
Summary
LaFern Joseph and designer Richard Villavera presented a restoration for 13 South Division Street; the board recommended selective demo and asked for revised plans showing options to expose original brick or use a mural, while the applicant warned of budget limits and unknown conditions behind the existing black facade.
LaFern Joseph (S8), the applicant, and designer Richard Villavera (S7) presented a restoration plan to repair rot, replace failing black facade panels with painted MDO panels, and re-mount the existing sign at 13 South Division Street. Villavera described the scope as repair and remediation—replacing damaged trim, repairing windowsills, and using routed painted MDO panels for a raised-panel look.
Board members pressed whether the project should instead uncover and repair original brick rather than repainting. Committee member S2 argued that exposing original brick could reduce long-term maintenance and better align with historic‑district goals; "I'd love to see the original brick," S2 said. Applicant Joseph repeatedly raised budget concerns, saying selective demo and sealing could cost more than the current plan: "It's gonna cost me more... I gotta stay within my budget," she said. The board suggested selective demo to reveal conditions and encouraged the applicant to consider a mural (members mentioned a Harriet Tubman concept) and other design alternatives. The board set a deadline for revised materials to be eligible for the August 27 meeting (materials due roughly a week before). No final vote was taken; the board asked for a revised submission showing either a mural proposal or an option to expose and repair the brick.
