Historic and Architectural Preservation Board Meeting - January 8, 2026
Historic and Architectural Preservation Board Meeting - January 8, 2026
The Historic and Architectural Preservation Board met on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on an ad valorem tax exemption for a property on the local register and a pre-application discussion for a new commercial building.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the minutes of the November 13, 2025 meeting unanimously.
- The board excused the absence of member Mr. Green.
Public Hearing: 500 Nassau Street South – Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Recommendation
- Staff: Harry Klinkhamer, Historical Resources Manager, presented the application for a 4-year ad valorem tax exemption for improvements to a property at 500 Nassau Street South, owned by Michael and Alice Jeromin. The property is on the Local Register of Historical Resources. The work had been previously approved via a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) and meets Secretary of the Interior standards.
- Applicant Michael Jeromin expressed gratitude and stated they are committed to a first-class restoration, noting the project is expensive but they aim to make the neighborhood proud.
- Board members commended the applicant for their preservation efforts and stated that the building is an example that even a deteriorated structure can be properly restored with care and financial backing.
- A motion to approve the application for recommendation to City Council was made, seconded, and passed unanimously via roll call: all board members present voted yes.
- Next steps: The recommendation will go to City Council for two readings and a city ordinance. Staff also will assist the applicants in applying for a similar county tax exemption.
Discussion Item: Pre-Application for 205 Harbor Drive North
- Staff: Brittany Smith, planner, introduced the pre-application for demolition and rebuild at 205 Harbor Drive North. The applicant is the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida.
- Architect John Holtz presented a preliminary design for a 2,100 square foot one-story commercial building with a Venice theme aesthetic, including stucco, cast stone base, metal tile roof, arched elements, and ornamental tile. The site is not in a floodplain and proposed five parking spaces with a possible agreement for additional parking at the adjacent cathedral.
- Board members provided feedback:
- Concern about window proportions: suggested more vertical proportions and divided lights to relate to the residential context of the street.
- Recommended a more pronounced water table or base band (cast stone band currently too minimal).
- Advised against shiny metal brackets; prefer wood or stucco with matte finish.
- Requested more context in future submittals (site plan, aerial view, neighboring properties).
- Noted that the design appropriately references the new cathedral across the street.
- Expressed general approval of the roof material and rhythm of bays.
- The board encouraged the applicant to incorporate feedback and proceed with a formal Certificate of Appropriateness application.
Board Discussion & Staff Comments
- The board discussed the annual report to City Council, which must be prepared in the first quarter.
- Staff announced that a historic preservation brochure is now available at the museum and planning office.
- Staff reported the kickoff meeting for the Edgewood and Seaboard Historic Resources Survey project, which will be conducted by Chronicle Heritage.
- It was noted that the CBoard area master plan is moving forward with a technical working group meeting that afternoon.
- A code change was adopted to make a Main Street board membership preferred but not required.
- Update on expired approvals: Several projects (Venice Avenue, Miami Avenue, Comcast building, circus property) have expired approvals and will need to come back before the board. The circus project currently has a new application under review. The 219 building site development plan expires in June; potential buyers are informed.
- Discussion about a cleared lot on South Harbor Drive: staff will investigate if it is in the historic district.
- An educational seminar on the local register was discussed; staff mentioned a February roundtable hosted by the Sarasota Alliance featuring the Jeromins.
- The board expressed interest in repeating the local register seminar.
Key Outcomes
- Approved recommendation to City Council for ad valorem tax exemption for 500 Nassau Street South (unanimous).
- Provided guidance for the 205 Harbor Drive pre-application; formal application expected later.
- Staff to prepare annual report and continue outreach on historic preservation programs.
Meeting Transcript
And we are ready when you are chair. All right. Hey, good morning, John. Happy New Year. All right. Seeing it's nine o'clock, we'll open uh the historic architectural preservation board meeting from January 8th, 2026. We have a roll call. Chair Beebe? Yes. Ms. Trammell. Here. Miss Derry Berry. Mr. Stecky? Here. Mr. Watkins. Here. Mr. Barrick? Present. And Mr. Green will be absent and he's asking the board to excuse his absence. All right. I'll accept a uh a motion to uh accept Mr. Green's absence. Someone like to move and motion. I'll make that I'll make the motion. Second. I'll second. All right. Uh Gene seconds it. All right. All in favor. Aye. Opposed? All right. He is excused officially. Oh, sorry. All right. Um approval of the minutes. Before you have the approval of uh or the minutes of November 13th, 2025. Is there any corrections or revisions that anyone sees? If not, we'll tend or take a motion to approve. Approved. Second. All right. All in favor? Aye.
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