Summary
To: Town Commission
From: Cathy DeKarz, Management Analyst / Historic Preservation Board
Date: 11/21/2017
______________________________________________________________________
Subject:
Title
1466 Orange Avenue: Special Certificate of Appropriateness
Summary:
In order to complete any renovations or construction over $25,000 to the exterior of a Town-recognized historic property, a Special Certificate of Appropriateness must first be granted by the Historic Preservation Board and by the Town Commission to the property owner in-question. On November 14, 2017, the Historic Preservation Board met to preliminarily review a Special Certificate of Appropriateness for the historic property owned by Ms. Patricia Irwin (1466 Orange Avenue), and recommended complete approval of the certificate.
Following the Historic Preservation Board’s recommendation for Ms. Irwin’s Special Certificate of Appropriateness Application, the Commission is now charged with reviewing the recommendation, along with the application, site plans, and other commentary, and shall vote to approve or deny the certificate.
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Body
Previous Commission Action: None.
Background/Problem Discussion: 1466 Orange Avenue (the single-family home owned by the applicant, Ms. Patricia Irwin) is designated as a locally historic property, and sits at the southwest corner of Orange Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue in Belleair. The home was built in 1915, is defined as a “Florida Cracker Style” structure, and is a part of the historic “Bidwell’s Wildwood Park” area of Belleair. Notable features of 1466 Orange Avenue include its “extremely pitched roof,” wood frame, vinyl siding, and shingle roof. In 2007, the property was unanimously approved for historic protection by the Historic Preservation Board per
the following four criteria points (note: only one is required):
1. Its character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the town, county, state, or nation
2. Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristic of an architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction or use of indigenous materials
3. Its embodiment of elements of design, detailing, materials, or craftsmanship that render it architecturally significant
4. Its suitability for preservation or restoration
Now, Ms. Irwin and her contractor have submitted an application for a Special Certificate of Appropriateness to the Town, along with site plans and specifications for the alterations being proposed. Such alterations include:
• The addition of a sunroom on the side of the home (with high-pitched, shingled roof and vinyl siding)
• The upgrade of exterior doors to hurricane standards
• The upgrade of all windows to hurricane standards, in like-kind to the originals
• An extension to the brick chimney over the addition, with like-kind materials
• The addition of a closed-in porch on the front of the house
• The construction of a covered breezeway with brick walkway pavers that connects the existing garage to the main house (with high-pitched, singled roofing features)
Though the Historic Preservation Board recommended approval for these alterations (and judged them for their ability to preserve and honor the historic nature of the home), the Commission is now tasked with making the final approval/denial of this Special Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed alterations on 1466 Orange Avenue. Such a decision is made by using the United State Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the ten tenants set forth therein that speak to the preservation of historical resources (see attached).
Expenditure Challenges None.
Financial Implications: None.
Recommendation: N/A
Proposed Motion I recommend approval/denial of the submitted Special Certificate of Appropriateness for 1466 Orange Avenue for the improvements submitted.