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Commission approves wood siding at 111 Ocean Ave after debate over deteriorated stucco
Summary
After a lengthy hearing, the Newport Historic District Commission approved replacing deteriorated stucco at 111 Ocean Ave with tongue‑and‑groove wood siding, citing concerns about structural rot from saltwater exposure and the property's non‑contributing status, while some commissioners noted the nominating papers describe stucco as distinctive.
Spencer Alexander presented the application on behalf of Reflections LLC to replace the rotted stucco on a non‑contributing property at 111 Ocean Ave with tongue‑and‑groove wood siding. Alexander told the commission that "stucco is highly porous... the water comes through the stucco rots the building," and argued that the existing stucco, applied about 48 years ago, has caused rot and threatens the building's structural stability. He said the siding option preserves the building's form and would allow the structure to remain in use for decades.
Commissioners debated the proposal's merits. Several members noted that the property's nominating papers list the house as a stuccoed example and that stucco can be durable in coastal settings if properly maintained. Commissioner Frank Balla and others suggested design alternatives and asked the applicant to consider profiles that better read as the existing building; the preservation planner reminded the commission of the standard for non‑contributing structures (preserve character‑defining features where possible but not required). After discussion, the commission moved and voted to approve the application, citing Newport Standard 17 (Tech 080; Tech 060 b1 and b2), with the majority concluding that the replacement would better preserve the structure than allowing continued deterioration.
The commission's record shows both the preservation concern about changing a material noted in nominating papers and the practical case that failing stucco may lead to greater loss if left in place. Implementation will proceed under the conditions recorded in the staff report and the cited standards.
