Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - October 13, 2022

The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, October 13, 2022, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (called to order at 5:32 p.m.), to conduct evidentiary hearings on eight applications for work in Wilmington's local historic districts. Six members were present; Ross Tomaselli was absent. Chair Kathleen Egan presided. The commission approved six requests (mostly with conditions), denied one request, and allowed one request to be withdrawn. A procedural note: the agenda listed the meeting at City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, while the approved minutes state the meeting was in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 102 North 3rd Street; this summary relies on the minutes for the location.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes (September 8, 2022): No corrections were offered. Stephen Sulkey moved to approve, and the motion carried 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• At 710 Grace Street, Travis Gilbert of the Historic Wilmington Foundation read from the National Register listing, explained that the home's non-contributing status resulted from loss of Victorian details when the porch was infilled, and noted the restored gable detail could make it eligible again if resurveyed. He expressed opposition to vinyl windows for this period-era house.
• Georgia Savas, a neighbor at 612 Grace Street, supported the applicant's request for vinyl windows, noting the current wood windows were single-pane and had contributed to high humidity (77% with an air conditioner and dehumidifier running). She also noted the property had previously had some vinyl windows.

Discussion Items

• 114 S 6th Street - New rear garage: Applicant James Rishavy proposed a 20-foot by 24-foot one-story rear garage with wood windows and no shutters. The driveway would curve to preserve an existing tree. The commission approved the request 6-0 with conditions, including a maximum garage height of 18 feet, no tree removal, low-e glass with no tint, no shutters, a bypass application for exterior lighting or security equipment, and documentation of the window lite pattern.
• 620 Chestnut Street - Addition and exterior alterations: The applicant proposed a two-story addition, siding repairs, new windows and shutters, a standing-seam metal roof, changes to the detached garage, a dining gazebo, a brick wall with iron gate, a garden walkway and water feature, and removal of two trees. Applicant representative Ashley Cameron said the magnolia tree would remain and the new brick wall would be 4 feet high. The commission approved the request 6-0 with conditions requiring bypass review of exterior lighting, final balustrade/bracket designs, paint color, breezeway door specifications, gazebo details, garage balcony details, and landscape design, plus submission of a cellar plan before the certificate of appropriateness was issued and tree-removal permits before work began.
• 710 Grace Street - Window replacement: The applicant, Coreena Schultz, requested vinyl windows to replace wood windows installed earlier in 2022 under a prior COA, citing a mold report caused by improper installation and incorrect sizing. Staff noted the house is non-contributing but that the design standards do not differentiate by status. The commission denied the request 6-0, with members stating the problem was installation quality rather than window material and expressing hope that the house could become contributing again. After the denial discussion, the applicant was allowed to speak again about timing, and staff noted that installing and inspecting proper wood windows under the prior COA would not require a new HPC appearance.
• 516 Grace Street - Roof replacement: Withdrawn at the applicant's request; the withdrawal motion carried 6-0.
• 108 S 2nd Street - Modification of MJW-20-5 (hotel): Vice-Chair Yermal recused himself because of professional involvement. John Murray with Bowman, Murray, Hemmingway Architects presented minor revisions to the approved hotel, including changes to door/window and balcony railing materials, relocation/recessing of the main entry, storefront modification, stucco finish, some window removals, and a higher parapet to screen rooftop equipment. Overall height and square footage would not change. The commission approved the modification 5-0 with conditions covering exterior lighting, an entrance sign, EIFS color approval, landscaping, preservation and donation of significant archaeological materials to the Cape Fear Museum, retention/restoration of granite curbing, sidewalk repairs, Technical Review Committee compliance, and code compliance.
• 114 Nun Street - Exterior alterations: This contributing house (c. 1885) would receive a replacement front entry door, sidelights, and transom; new rear sunroom windows and French door; a new rear deck; and removal of a non-original octagonal window. Applicant Nick Balding asked that a condition requiring salvage of the colored glass door be removed because the glass was unsalvageable. The commission agreed and approved the request 6-0 with the remaining conditions (lighting bypass, final deck design approval, clear untinted glazing, code compliance, and HPC/bypass review of changes).
• 701 Market Street - Window replacement: Contractor John Hanley proposed composite replacement windows for the non-contributing office building. At the commission's suggestion, the lite pattern was changed from 16-over-8 to 12-over-12 with a center sash, and simulated divided light with spacers was accepted instead of grilles-between-glass. Three false windows near the AC unit on the east facade were allowed to be tinted. The request was approved 5-0 with these conditions.
• 514 S 4th Street - Window replacement: Applicant Eric Slivken requested vinyl windows for the contributing Atkinson House (c. 1910), citing long wood-window lead times and current problems with only storm windows in place, including water intrusion and poor temperature control. The commission instead approved wood replacement windows 5-0, with conditions requiring clear glass, a six-over-six lite pattern using simulated divided lites with spacer bar, color matching the existing storm windows, no new window openings, and wood material.

Key Outcomes

• Approved with conditions (6-0): 114 S 6th Street; 620 Chestnut Street; 114 Nun Street.
• Approved with conditions (5-0): 108 S 2nd Street (Yermal recused); 701 Market Street; 514 S 4th Street.
• Denied (6-0): 710 Grace Street.
• Withdrawn (6-0): 516 Grace Street.
• Administrative actions: Minutes approved 6-0; Chair Egan thanked outgoing commissioners Joan Keston and Michael Smith and welcomed new members Ross Tomaselli and Alison Watts; no staff items; next meeting scheduled for November 10, 2022; meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.