Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – November 13, 2025

The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:33 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Vice-Chair Joan Keston presided with Commissioners Alison Watts, Ashley Wilson, Beth Rutledge, and Stephen Sulkey present. Chairman Christopher Yermal and Commissioner Ross Tomaselli were absent. With five of seven members in attendance, four votes were required for any approval or denial. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tori Fish (1703 Pope Court) spoke during the discussion on Item 9 (507 Grace Street), sharing her experience using limewash on brick as a breathable alternative to paint, which influenced the commission's decision to allow either masonry paint or limewash.
• No other members of the public spoke during the evidentiary hearings, though several applicants and their representatives provided testimony.

Old Business (Items 1–3)

• Item 1 – 515/517 South 4th Street (Roof replacement with material change): The applicant requested a continuance; the commission voted 5–0 to continue the item to December 8, 2025.
• Item 2 – 515 South 3rd Street (Subdivision, access road, new house): Approved 5–0 with conditions, including clear glazing, protection of mature trees, proper permits, smooth-side fiberboard installation, and TRC‑required driveway modifications.
• Item 3 – 323 South 4th Street (Roof replacement with standing seam metal): Approved 5–0 with conditions requiring flat‑channel panels (no striations), proper disposal of old materials, and compliance with building codes. A 1966 photo showing a standing‑seam porch roof provided historical precedent.

New Business (Items 4–12)

• Item 4 – 505 South 5th Avenue (Siding, trim, soffit, fascia replacement): The applicant proposed LP SmartSide wood‑composite siding. Commissioners debated whether composite met the “replace like with like” standard. Motion to approve failed 3–2 (Watts, Sulkey in favor; Wilson, Rutledge opposed), resulting in denial.
• Item 5 – 722 Red Cross Street (Exterior renovations including window replacements): Approved 5–0. Because the house is a non‑contributing structure, the commission allowed LP SmartSide composite siding. Conditions include clear glazing, proper disposal, tree protection, and code compliance.
• Item 6 – 1707 Princess Street (Window replacements with material change): The applicant initially requested wood‑composite windows; after discussion, she agreed to install wood windows. The commission approved 5–0 with conditions that windows be wood and final selection reviewed via administrative bypass.
• Item 7 – 114 North 8th Street (After‑the‑fact roof replacement): The applicant replaced a flat‑channel metal roof with a striated metal roof without a Certificate of Appropriateness. A motion to deny the after‑the‑fact request failed 3–2 (Sulkey, Wilson, Rutledge in favor; Keston, Watts opposed), meaning the roof was not approved. The city attorney advised the applicant that the violation runs with the property and that the roof must be brought into compliance or appealed.
• Item 8 – 613 Chestnut Street (Small rear addition): Approved 5–0 with conditions for clear glazing, proper disposal, tree protection, and code compliance. The contractor clarified siding would be pine, not OSB.
• Item 9 – 507 Grace Street (Painting unpainted brick columns): Approved 4–1 (Sulkey voted no). The masonry had been poorly repaired; the commission allowed painting with breathable masonry paint or limewash to avoid moisture trapping, with final product approved via administrative bypass.
• Item 10 – 712 Chestnut Street (Removal of small brick chimney at Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church): Approved 5–0. The chimney was non‑original, deteriorated, and not historically significant. Conditions include matching roof patch, protection of stained‑glass windows, and proper disposal.
• Item 11 – 1519 Princess Street (Rear window and door alterations): Approved 5–0. The proposal replaced two mismatched doors with French doors and added a matching window, improving rear symmetry. Conditions require clear glazing and matching brick/mortar.
• Item 12 – 707 Grace Street (After‑the‑fact rear porch enclosure): Approved 5–0. Work had been started without a COA by a contractor who abandoned the project. The commission accepted the applicant’s completed work (with revised decking materials) and allowed finishing via conditions including clear glazing and administrative bypass for stairs and railing.

Other Business

• Item 13 – Mary Etta Williams House and Property Study List Application (709 North 8th Street): Approved 5–0 to add the property to the Local Landmark Study List. The property has been in the same family for 140 years and is associated with African‑American heritage and the Rosenwald Canetuck School. The commission noted that study‑list placement does not yet designate the property as a local landmark.

Key Outcomes

• Vote tally: 11 items approved, 1 denied (Item 4), 1 continued (Item 1), and 1 after‑the‑fact request not approved (Item 7), requiring compliance or appeal.
• Four‑vote requirement: Because only five members were present, four affirmative votes were needed; Item 4 (3–2) and Item 7 denial (3–2) both failed to meet that threshold.
• Staff announcement: The Planning Department warned that scammers are sending fake invoices impersonating the department; residents should verify any suspicious invoices.
• Commissioner reminder: Stephen Sulkey cautioned property owners against paying contractors large sums upfront, advising payment only as work progresses.
• Next meeting: December 11, 2025.