Council upholds ARB decision requiring metal roof and rebuilt chimneys at 224 South Street

Petersburg City Council voted on June 16 to uphold the Architectural Review Boards decision that the owner of 224 South Street must replace an asphalt shingle roof with a standing-seam metal roof and reconstruct two chimneys to match the original character-defining features.

Jared Cruz of the city planning department told the council that zoning staff discovered the work in March, that the ARB denied retention of the asphalt roof on April 8, and later granted a 24-month compliance window when the applicant asked for an extension. The ARBs decision was based on the citys historic-district guidelines and the Secretary of the Interiors standards, which favor repair of original features and matching materials when replacement is necessary.

Property owner Joseph Proffert said the house had been in very poor condition and described safety concerns that led him to replace the roof and remove crumbling chimneys. "It was a safety issue," Proffert said, adding that the contractor quoted roughly $25,000 to build faux chimneys and restore the metal roof and that he could not afford that cost. Several residents urged the council to show flexibility; Rhonda Sonnenberg suggested a city notice program to inform new owners about historic-district rules. Preservation board member Celeste Wen Revish urged consistency with preservation standards, warning that loss of character-defining features could jeopardize grants and the citys certified local government status.

Councilmember Smith Lee moved to uphold the ARB, citing the boards role in protecting district character; the motion passed by roll call. After the vote, the council also unanimously directed the city manager to explore placing a short notice in the chain of title for properties within local historic districts to alert future owners to review requirements and contact the Department of Planning.