HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEPB Fact Sheet 11-21-00HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD
FACT SHEET
NAME Morningside Historic District
ADDRESS 714 NE 59 Street
PROJECT DESCRIPTION Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a
hedge along a portion of the north and east property lines, removal and
relocation of trees, modification to the front entrance and installation of
awnings.
ANALYSIS
The subject property is located on a corner lot and features a historic 3-
112' wall that encloses a portion of the north and east side yards.
Although the wall is not located directly in front of the house, the western
portion of the wail, which encloses a vacant lot, is located adjacent to the
sidewalk. There are numerous shrubs and other landscape materials
behind the wall. The applicant is proposing to remove this material and
plant a manicured ficus hedge behind the wall. The hedge would be
maintained at 5' in height.
As the Board is aware, its guidelines for hedges, fences and walls in the
Morningside Historic District state that no enclosures shall be located
between the front facade of the house and the sidewalk. The guidelines,
however, allow exceptions if the proposal is historically appropriate or if
unique circumstances are present. The Board has previously approved
similar applications to enclose vacant lots adjacent to historic properties.
The subject property, in fact, has often been used as a precedent for
approving such enclosures. The addition of a 5' hedge behind this
historic wail is consistent with the guidelines.
The applicant is also proposing to remove a number of trees from the
property in order to create a more manicured appearance. Trees located
within the interior side and rear yards, however, are not subject to review
by the Board. The Board may approve the removal of trees if they are
inappropriate in a historic context or otherwise detract from the character
of the historic property. Although none of the trees proposed for removal
are specimen or particularly desirable trees, removing these trees would
eliminate most of the existing canopy from the property. The proposed
mitigation includes only palms and hedge -type material. On a positive
note, however, removing the trees and hedges along North Bayshore
Drive would provide more visibility to the second story and roof of the
house. The applicant, however, would have to mitigate the lost canopy in
an off -site location if he does not wish to plant additional trees on his
property.
Item #5
November 21, 2000
RECOMMENDATION
The applicant is also proposing to add a keystone border around the
main entrance. Although keystone is a material that is compatible with
the house, the guidelines discourage attempts to "improve upon" the
original architect's design intent. The original entrance should not be
altered.
The applicant is also proposing awnings for the second story windows on
the front of the house. The proposed awnings are consistent with the
architectural character of the house.
The Preservation Officer recommends that the application for a
Certificate of Appropriateness be approved, subject to the following
condition, because the work as modified is consistent with the historic
and architectural character of the property and historic district in terms of
size, scale, design, materials, and texture and complies with the
Secretary of the interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation."
1. Mitigation to replace the lost canopy shall be provided, either on -site
or at an off -site location in the neighborhood. One possible location
could be Morningside Park.
2. Only very low plantings shall be placed in front that section of wall to
the east of the house. Because the wall is a historic feature, it shall
not be enclosed or concealed by landscaping.
3. Trimming of trees in the right-of-way shall require a separate permit
from the Public Works Department.
!tem #5
November 21, 2000