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Commission approves ADA access and restoration work for 17 Broadway (Newport Historical Society)
Summary
The commission approved a new addition, ramp and roof replacement at the Lyman Hazard House (17 Broadway) to enable ADA access, citing Secretary of the Interior and Newport standards; the proposal preserves interpretive features while adding accessible entry and modern systems.
The Newport Historic District Commission voted to approve the Newport Historical Society’s proposal for 17 Broadway to add an accessible terrace and ramp, replace the roof with period‑appropriate cedar shingles, and alter rear fenestration as needed to accommodate an ADA bathroom and mechanical systems. Counsel Trevor Scott (S19) and expert David Parker (S20) emphasized the building’s historical significance and the need for accessibility and building systems to preserve the house’s long‑term use.
David Parker (S20), an accepted expert in preservation, outlined the building’s evolution and said the addition was designed to be clearly new while sympathetic to historic fabric. “We need to make this building accessible and to provide necessary systems in a way that distinguishes old from new,” Parker said. Commissioners who raised concerns about visual differentiation were satisfied by the proposed vertical planking and recessed massing; the commission approved the application citing Newport standards for contributing properties.
Why it matters: The Lyman Hazard House is among the city’s oldest documented residences; the approval balances accessibility needs and preservation standards, enabling the society to adapt the site for a broader public while keeping the historic character of the structure.
