Improvements approved by HDC

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The Historic District Commission closed out 2019 with several straightforward approvals.

Keith Rivera, at 42 Kingshighway, had triggered some reaction from commissioners at the Nov. 20 meeting, after beginning work on his property without HDC approval. Rivera did not attend that meeting, and commissioners approved replacing some trim boards, but postponed a decision on adding shutters.

At the Dec. 4 meeting, Rivera apologized for not knowing all the procedures. He explained that he has recently bought the property and did not understand the restrictions. Rivera said the property has gone through many changes over the years, and some of the buildings appear to have been reassembled on site. Older pictures show that one of the buildings had shiplap siding at one time.

Rivera described shutters with three vertical boards and two cross-pieces. He said a log cabin on Spring St. has similar shutters, and asked approval for 19 sets of shutters. The shutters would help reduce what Rivera called the “negative white space” on the walls and would tie in with other cedar trim. The shutters would be decorative, not functional.

HDC guidelines prohibit adding shutters unless a building already had them, but those guidelines also allow for approval if shutters are compatible with the style of a building. Commissioners voted 4-2 to approve the shutters, with Dee Bright and Marty Cogan opposed.

Glassing in approved

At 7 Kingshighway, David Maul asked approval to add glass windows to a screened porch. The property dates to 1905 and is considered contributing. Maul said the screened porch was probably an enclosure of a side porch. Commissioners approved the project, which calls for adding a wooden entry door behind the existing screen door.

Mark and Lisa Anderson asked permission to replace deteriorating windows at 28 Fairmount St. The property dates to 1904 and is considered contributing. Contractor Penny Pemberton explained that the property has new owners, after a period in foreclosure without occupants in the house. Pemberton said the windows need replacing, and the HDC approved windows in existing openings, in a style similar to the declining windows.

A new single-family residence was approved on 12 Alamo St. Susie Allen said the house “should fit in the neighborhood just fine,” and commissioners unanimously approved her application after reviewing the project specifications.

The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2. Level III applications are due by Dec. 19, and other levels are due by Dec. 27. Chairman Steve Holifield reminded the other commissioners that officers will be elected at the first meeting of the year on Jan. 2.