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Preservation board upholds director's denial for 2040 Victor Street porch enclosure
Summary
After staff said the proposed porch enclosure did not meet Benton Park standards for fenestration and materials, the Preservation Board voted to uphold the director's denial and urged the applicant to work with Cultural Resources Office staff on revised windows and materials.
The St. Louis Preservation Board voted to uphold the Cultural Resources Office director's denial of a proposed partial enclosure of a side porch at 2040 Victor Street, finding the project as presented did not comply with Benton Park Historic District standards.
Andre Gagan, a Cultural Resources Office planner, told the board the denial rested on the enclosure not being based on a "model example" for a semi-public facade and on the proposed contemporary fenestration and composite siding being visible from Victor Street. He said staff received letters of support from the Benton Park Neighborhood Review Committee and neighbors but nonetheless recommended the board uphold the denial because the siding and window treatment did not meet district standards: "Based on these preliminary findings, the cultural resources office recommends that the preservation board uphold the director's denial, as the porch enclosure is not in compliance with Benton Park District standards for appendages."
The applicant's architect, Jessica Dean, and homeowner Linda Silver described practical reasons for the enclosure, including a need for first-floor storage and that the enclosure would stay within the original porch footprint. Dean said the proposed HDPE composite siding has deep ribbing and is set back behind the main mass so "from a distance, it'll read more like beadboard" and would only be visible from a particular vantage point.
Commissioner Stan Fowler moved to uphold the director's denial, citing noncompliance with Benton Park standards, and recommended the appellant work with CRO staff to find a solution. Several commissioners said they could be persuaded by changes to window spacing and trim; Commissioner Mike Killeen said he would vote against the motion. The board carried the motion on a roll-call vote; staff told the applicant to follow up with CRO staff to discuss revised materials and window configurations.
