Commission approves revised proposal at 1244 Ohio Street with conditional porch and setback waivers

The Historic Resources Commission voted to approve a revised demolition and rebuild plan for 1244 Ohio Street after staff and the Architectural Review Committee reviewed changes that brought the design closer to the Oread neighborhood guidelines. Staff recommended approval, noting the existing building qualifies for demolition review because it falls outside the period of significance and that the revised design restores porch proportion and historic window patterns.

Lynn (staff member) presented the revisions, saying the applicant had reduced the building footprint, increased the porch scale and modified window proportions. The applicant (presenter) told the commission they had “shrunk the footprint about 600 square feet” and had redesigned the front façade to include a wider porch and taller, historically proportioned windows. Commissioners asked specifically about the front entry configuration; Commissioner (speaker 8) moved approval that would allow either duplicated sidelights or no sidelights with the transom retained as a condition of the motion. The motion, which accepted three guideline departures (front setback reduced to roughly 15 feet from the 20‑foot guideline, a porch encroachment of 11 feet and 250 square feet versus the guideline limits, and a lot consolidation supported by historic lot patterns), passed with the commission’s recorded vote.

The commission’s action directs staff to include the door‑sidelight requirement in the approval language and preserve the other agreed conditions in the permit review. The applicant and staff will bring final material selections and the specific front door configuration forward as part of the building permit process.