CITY OF SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD OF REVIEW REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF RECOMMENDATION PETITIONER: FILE NUMBER: ADDRESS: Brenda K. Pearson Neil Dawson Architects, PC 1020 Bryan Woods Loop, Suite 1 Savannah, GA 31410 14-003380-COA PIN: 2-0005 -06-028 ZONING: STAFF REVIEWER: R-B-C Leah G. Michalak DATE: NATURE OF REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval for rehabilitation and alterations to the Pirate s House located at as follows: 1. Demolition of the non-historic service yard additions on the north façade, including removal of the non-historic brick screening wall, and non-historic lean-to addition (c. 1980). 2. Relocation of the air conditioning unit and gas meter from its current location on the north façade within the service yard, to the rear of the building on the east elevation. The proposed location on the east elevation is not visible from the public right-of-way. 3. Removal of the historic granite curb, brick planters, brick sidewalk, non-historic brick deck and stair, and concrete surfaces. A portion of the street corner brick pavers will be re-laid allowing for an ADA curb ramp. The existing sidewalk abutting the north façade will be widened and surfaced with matching brick pavers and granite curbs. A portion of the existing drive will be replaced with a new speed table with brick accents. 4. Removal of a non-historic door on the north façade, to be returned to the original window configuration. Window to match existing six over six true divided lite single glazed windows. New shutters will match the existing in material and design (c. 1980). 5. Install a new window opening on the north façade in the location of a historic window that is currently infilled. Window to match existing six over six true divided lite single glazed windows. New shutters will match the existing in material and design (c. 1980). 6. Construct a new brick stoop and reconstruct the historic wood stoop at the historic entrance on the north façade. The new wood stoop will have a hip roof with a 6:12 slope and feature a standing seam metal roof; Sentrigard in Slate Gray with 1 inch high seams and 18 inch wide panels. It will be supported by 6 inch square wood columns. The stoop
Page 2 floor will be constructed from brick and will have a west facing step; the brick will be Boral Brick, 17 th Century Collection. 7. Construct two new brick planters at the bay window and at the metal stair on the ca. 1980s addition on the north elevation. The new planters will be a little over two feet-two inches in height. The brick will be Boral Brick, 17 th Century Collection. CONTEXT: The historic building was constructed ca.1794-1808 with a second story addition added after 1871 and is a contributing structure within the Savannah National Historic Landmark District and the Savannah Local Historic District. The original form of the building was a simple I-House plan characterized by simplicity of ornament and a side entry, fronting onto (former) Wright Street. The Pirate s House was historically an inn and has been altered numerous times throughout its existence. Additions to the north, including a second story over the one-story shop (1980) and the wood frame electrical shed that connect the two structures were constructed after 1973, as shown on the Sanborn Map below (Fig.1). The proposed changes will restore the front section of the building to its 1871 appearance, as documented in photographs from the Georgia Historical Society dating from the 1950s (Fig.2), and reduce non-original elements visible from the public right-of-way. Figure 1: 1955 Sanborn, revised through 1973. Figure 2: The Pirate s House, ca. 1950. FINDINGS: On August 10, 2011, the Board approved this same project, which has since expired, with the following conditions [File No. H-11-4476-2]: 1. Provide metal roof specifications; 2. Provide new shutter specifications; 3. Provide new stain and/or color change. This information is provided with the current proposal.
Page 3 Additionally, on January 17, 2014, staff approved to replace the existing corrugated metal roof with a new standing seam metal roof: Sentrigard in Slate Gray [File No. 14-000189-COA]. A condition of the approval was that the seam height not exceed 1 inch and the panel width not exceed 18 inches to be visually compatible with related contributing buildings. The following standards from the Historic District Section (8-3030) of the City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance apply: Preservation of historic structures within the historic district. An historic structure, and any outbuildings, or any appurtenance related thereto, visible from a public street or lane, including but not limited to walls, fences, light fixtures, steps, paving, sidewalks, and signs, shall only be moved, reconstructed, altered, or maintained in a manner that will preserve the historical and exterior architectural features of the historic structure or appurtenance thereto and are consistent with the current edition of the Secretary of the Interior s Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The visual compatibility factors [Section (m)] and the design standards [Section (n)] shall apply. For the purposes of this section, exterior architectural features shall include but not be limited to the architectural style, scale, general design, and general arrangement of the exterior of the structure, including the kind and texture of the building material, the type and style of all roofs, windows, doors and signs. In considering proposals for the exterior alterations of historic structures in the historic district the documented original design of the structure may be considered. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 2 Historic Character. The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 3 Physical Record. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 4 Historic Changes. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 5 Distinctive Features. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 6 Deteriorated Features. Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence. Secretary of the Interior s Standards 9 New Additions to not Damage. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic
Page 4 materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. The standards are met. No change to the historic fabric is proposed. Incompatible non-historic additions will be removed and the property will be restored to its historic appearance. No conjectural features are proposed, the portico will be reconstructed to match photographs of the property from the 1950s. Photographs of the property from the 1950s show evidence of the window opening that will be restored and incompatible changes to the building that have occurred over time will be reversed. Exterior alterations to the property are limited to restoring the property to its historical appearance and the proposed materials will be compatible with the historic elements. Other proposed changes will occur to the sidewalk. Visual compatibility factors. New construction and existing buildings and structures and appurtenances thereof in the historic district which are moved, reconstructed, materially altered, repaired or changed in color shall be visually compatible with structures, squares and places to which they are visually related. The following factors shall be considered in determining the visual compatibility of such a building, structure or appurtenance. These factors shall not be the basis for appeal of an adverse decision. Greater weight shall be given to adjacent historic structures. Proportion of openings. The relationship of the width of the windows to height of windows within a structure shall be visually compatible to the contributing structures to which the structure is Visually Related. Rhythm of solids to voids in front facades. The relationship of solids to voids in the facades visible from the public right-of-way of a structure shall be visually compatible with the contributing structures to which the structure is Visually Related. Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projection. The relationship of entrances, porch projections, and walkways to structures shall be visually compatible with the contributing structures to which they are Visually Related. Relationship of materials, texture and color. The relationship of materials, texture and color of the facade of a structure shall be visually compatible with the predominate materials, textures, and colors used on contributing structures to which the structure is Visually Related. Roof shapes. The roof shape of a structure shall be visually compatible with the contributing structures to which it is Visually Related. The standards are met. Design standards. The following design standards shall apply to new construction, additions, and alterations to historic and non-historic buildings and structures. Though certain building materials are prescribed herein, the Board may approve alternative materials that are not listed as prohibited upon a showing by the applicant that the material
Page 5 or product is visually compatible with historic building materials and has performed satisfactorily in the local climate. Windows, Shutters. The following standards shall apply to all development. Windows. Windows facing a street shall be double or triple hung, awning, casement or Palladian. Replacement windows on historic buildings shall replicate the original historic windows in composition, design, and material. All windows facing a street, exclusive of storefronts, basement and top story windows, shall be rectangular and shall have a vertical to horizontal ratio of not less than 5:3; provided, however, nothing in this section precludes an arched window being used. Accent windows may be round or other shapes. Original openings in historic buildings are exempt. Window sashes shall be inset not less than three inches from the exterior facade of a building, excluding exterior surfaces with wood siding. Ensure that the inset of the new windows is not less than 3 inches or matches the inset of the historic windows. Shutters. Shutters shall be hinged and operable and sized to fit the window opening. The placement of the horizontal rail shall correspond to the location of the meeting rail of the window. Shutters shall be constructed of durable wood. The standards are met. The shutters match the existing shutters on the building. Roofs. Roofs shall comply with the following: The standards are met. Gable roof pitches shall be between 4:12 and 8:12. Gable and hip roofs in excess of 8:12 pitch are permitted only where a similar historic building roof pitch exists within the same block front. Roofs shall be covered with standing seam metal, slate, tile or asphalt shingles. Balconies, stairs, stoops, porticos, and porches. Balconies, stairs, stoops, porticos, and porches within the public right-of-way may be permitted with the approval of the encroachment by the Mayor and Aldermen and provided that the following criteria are met: Stoop piers and base walls shall be the same material as the foundation wall facing the street. Infill between foundation piers shall be recessed so that the piers are distinguishable.
Page 6 Front stair treads and risers shall be constructed of brick, wood, precast stone, marble, sandstone or slate. Wood portico posts shall have cap and base molding. The column capital shall extend outward of the porch architrave. Supported front porticos shall be constructed of wood unless the proposed material matches other facade details on the same building, such as terra cotta, marble, or metal. Stoop heights shall be visually comparable to other historic stoops to which they are visually related and shall not exceed 9-6. The standards are met. The ordinance states: In considering proposals for the exterior alterations of historic structures in the historic district the documented original design of the structure may be considered. The proposed stoop design matches the stoop in the 1950s photograph and the simple column design, insitu, on the side porch. Service Areas, Utilities and Mechanical Systems. Service Areas, Utilities and Mechanical Systems shall comply with the following: The standards are met. Electrical vaults, meter boxes, and communications devices shall be located on secondary and rear facades and shall be minimally visible from view. HVAC units shall be screened from the public right-of-way. Refuse storage areas shall be located within a building or shall be screened from the public right-of-way. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval for rehabilitation and alterations to the Pirate s House located at 20 East Broad Street with the following conditions to be submitted to staff for final review and approval: 1. Salvage and reuse the historic granite curb material. 2. Ensure that the inset of the new windows is not less than 3 inches or matches the inset of the historic windows. EIH: lgm