Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – October 10, 2024

The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., and adjourned at 7:29 p.m. A quorum of four members was present: Vice-Chair Christopher Yermal, Stephen Sulkey, Joan Keston, and Ashley Wilson. Chair Kathleen Egan, Alison Watts, and Ross Tomaselli were absent. Staff advised that with only four members present, any item needed a unanimous 4-0 vote and that a split vote would automatically fail. The commission approved six certificates of appropriateness, denied one element of an after-the-fact request, failed a two-lot new construction proposal, and approved a letter of support for a grant application.

Approval of Minutes

• Minutes of the September 12, 2024 meeting were approved as presented 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Edward Sager (318 South 3rd Street) raised parking concerns for the South Front Street projects, saying the area was already tight and asking where at least ten vehicles from the combined units would park.
• For 505 and 509 Common Cap Way, De'Andre Cornette (314 Lennon Drive, Unit 12011), speaking on behalf of neighbor Ms. McBride, opposed the development. He said the second alley adjacent to her property could increase crime and reduce property values in a historically Black neighborhood, and he requested that the item be tabled. The commission and staff replied that the alley and subdivision approval were outside the commission's scope and suggested he speak to staff about possible recourse.
• Dorothy Sutton McBride (410 North 5th Avenue) also opposed the Common Cap Way project, citing the proximity of new houses to her backyard and a church over 150 years old, and reporting that part of her privacy fence had been altered or damaged. Vice-Chair Yermal said the fence issue was a legal matter outside the commission's authority.
• Brian Moschet (111 Ann Street), the homeowner, supported the after-the-fact deck work, saying he loved the results and that neighbors were supportive.
• Edward Sager also asked about the shared brick wall and roof pitch for the 209 Nun Street addition; the commission noted that the building permit process would require structural approval.

Discussion Items

• 216 South Front Street (CBD-HDO change in materials): Staff said the non-contributing 2008 three-story condominium received emergency approval in September to repair water damage. The applicant, David Lyle, sought to replace balcony doors without reinstalling the transom because of rot in the framing. The commission approved the change with the standard construction and administrative-bypass conditions, 4-0.
• 222 South Front Street (CBD-HDO new construction and parking installation): Staff presented a proposed new three-story, roughly 1,384-square-foot, 38.5-foot-tall multi-unit building on a vacant lot. Commissioners asked about preserving the existing retaining wall and screening the south-side stair and six apartment doors from the neighboring historic house. The applicant's architect, Rob Romero, said entries were recessed and he was willing to add screening. After public comment on parking, the commission approved 4-0 with conditions, including lattice, shade, or louver screening to at least door-frame height, like-kind retaining-wall repairs, and preservation/reuse of bricks.
• 226 South Front Street (CBD-HDO exterior alterations and parking installation): This companion item covers the William G. Fowler House, a contributing structure built between 1849 and 1865, to be restored for multi-unit residential use. The proposal included roof repair, front porch reconstruction, a rear addition, a driveway, parking, and replacement of unapproved garage doors. The commission approved 4-0 with conditions preserving the chimney, reusing retaining-wall brick, keeping garage doors from swinging into the right-of-way, and not removing on-street parking without city manager approval.
• 111 Ann Street (HD-R after-the-fact change in materials): The circa 1977 rowhouse received approval last year for a roofed porch deck with a waterproof membrane and vertical spindles. Instead, composite decking and a geometric balustrade were installed. Staff noted the updated Design Standards allow composite porch flooring. The commission approved the composite decking 4-0 with a condition that exposed deck ends be cut back and concealed with a horizontal pressure-treated wood frame, and denied the geometric balustrade 4-0 as incompatible with the historic district.
• 505 & 509 Common Cap Way (HD-R new construction and landscaping): Staff presented two proposed identical two-story dwellings behind 416 North Fifth Avenue, each 22 feet by 39 feet, with 858-square-foot footprints, 27-foot-1.5-inch height, Hardie Plank siding, black vinyl 2-over-2 windows, black-painted wood entry doors, and natural parchment color block foundations. The applicant, Ben Miller of Clover Group, representing Commonwealth Capital, said he was not inclined to change the black vinyl windows and that the front gable was an open structural truss. Several commissioners said the open truss and black vinyl windows were not congruous with the district. Two motions to conditionally approve with the truss removed failed 2-2, with Vice-Chair Yermal and Commissioner Wilson opposed.
• 209 Nun Street (HD-R addition to accessory structure): The applicant proposed a second-story addition to an existing brick garage to create an accessory dwelling unit, with wood clapboard and fish-scale siding, a 5:12 metal roof, a craftsman-style fiberglass door, and one-over-one wood windows. The commission approved 4-0 with conditions including clear low-e glass, flat roof panels, bypass review of exterior lighting, landscaping, and trim, and archaeological-materials notification.
• 1922 Chestnut Street (Carolina Heights/Winoca Terrace modification): The commission reviewed changes to a previously approved two-story accessory structure, mainly fenestration, a smaller centered rear deck, composite decking, a horizontal cable railing, and modified entry doors. The applicant, Trey Sultan, said another architect adjusted the floor plan for greater symmetry and the windows were not tinted and had spacer bars. The commission approved 4-0 with conditions requiring clear glass, true or simulated divided lights with spacer bars, and bypass approval for mechanical equipment and cable railing details.

Other Business

• Greenfield Lake Park – Lion's Bridge Replacement letter of support: Andrea Talley, Parks and Recreation grant writer, said the Lion's Bridge was closed after a 2023 engineering assessment found deteriorated main pilings. The current bridge is not ADA accessible; replacement cost estimates ranged from about $600,000 for a six-foot bridge to up to $1.3 million for ten-foot ADA-accessible, bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly designs. Existing Capital Improvement Program funds for fiscal years 2025–2026 would cover only the least expensive option. She requested a letter of support for a $500,000 Great Trails State Grant application due November 12, 2024. The commission approved the letter of support 4-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved September 12, 2024 minutes, 4-0.
• Approved 216 South Front Street with conditions, 4-0.
• Approved 222 South Front Street with conditions, 4-0.
• Approved 226 South Front Street with conditions, 4-0.
• Approved 111 Ann Street decking with conditions, 4-0; denied the geometric balustrade, 4-0.
• Failed 505 and 509 Common Cap Way, each 2-2 (Vice-Chair Yermal and Commissioner Wilson opposed).
• Approved 209 Nun Street with conditions, 4-0.
• Approved 1922 Chestnut Street with conditions, 4-0.
• Approved the Lion's Bridge grant application letter of support, 4-0.

Note on Source Discrepancies

• The agenda lists the meeting location as City Council Chambers, Skyline Center; the minutes state City Council Chambers, City Hall, 102 North 3rd Street.
• The minutes identify the architect for 222 South Front Street as Robert Marrow, while the transcript and the 226 South Front Street portion use Rob Romero; both cite 1006 North Third Street.