The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 929 N. Front Street, Wilmington, NC. Six members were present; Ashley Wilson was excused. The Commission approved the May 14 minutes, held three evidentiary hearings, and considered bridge replacement, archaeological monitoring, window replacement policy, and revised rules of procedure. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
814 Macumber Alley - New house construction (continued): Staff presented a revised proposal for a two-story hipped-roof house on a vacant, non-contributing lot in the Historic District-Residential (HD-R) district. The design changed from a front gable to a hipped roof and added side windows in response to prior Commission feedback. The proposed house was approximately 26 ft x 42 ft, with a height of 30 ft 10 in. A former two-story dwelling on the lot, shown on Sanborn maps, was demolished around 1965. Staff noted that a 20 ft wide gravel parking area in front would generally be inappropriate in HD-R but exists on other alley properties; staff also noted that homestay or whole-house lodging parking requirements may preclude guest parking in the front gravel area. Minutes identify the applicant as Tim Johnson, although the raw transcript appears to render the spoken name differently. The applicant said the revisions incorporated the Commission's suggestions and that parking was sufficient. Following public testimony, commissioners debated massing, scale, compatibility with the one-story alley, and the limited authority of the Commission over parking, drainage, and short-term rentals. A motion to deny was made and seconded, but before the vote the applicant requested additional time to explore alternative massing. The Commission voted 6-0 to continue the item to the July 9, 2026 meeting.
503 S. 3rd Street - Arbor installation: Staff presented a request for a front-yard arbor serving as a gate from the sidewalk at a contributing HD-R property. The applicant had received administrative approval for a picket fence, but the contractor built the arbor before Commission approval, triggering a stop-work order. Applicant Matt Ragland apologized, said the installation was a contractor error, and stated that he self-reported the work to staff. The arbor was intended to match the approved fence and support flowering vines. No public speakers appeared. The Commission found the arbor compatible and approved the request 6-0 with the conditions in the case summary, including a requirement that no mature trees or historic landscaping be removed.
126 S. 3rd Street - Window heat pump units: Staff presented a request to install four Friedrich window-mounted heat pump units in the window openings of the accessory quarters at a contributing HD-R property. The units would not penetrate the original brick, wood frames, or sills. Applicant representatives Darren McIntire and Amy Rogers of the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society said mini-splits had been considered but would require brick penetrations and cost an estimated $40,000-$50,000, far above the organization's $10,000 budget. They described mold and moisture problems in the existing ductwork, plans to seal the registers, and the proposed units as a temporary solution while fundraising continues for a permanent HVAC project. No public speakers appeared. The Commission approved the request 6-0 with staff conditions and an added condition that the units be removed once funding is secured for a permanent HVAC fix.
Are based on the record of these proceedings, the Wilmington Design Standards for Historic District and Landmarks and the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. Evidence submitted to the Commission for review becomes part of the record. Appeals of commission decisions are made to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment and then at the Superior Court and are based on the record. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the commission's action. Evidence is received during the evidentiary hearing portion of an agenda item. Those who want to address the commission are sworn as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence to the commission. The chair recognizes those who want to submit such evidence during the evidentiary hearing and evidence should be directed to the commission. To ensure that evidence is properly recorded, please come to the podium to address the commission, state your name and address and speak clearly. Members of the historic preservation commission are appointed by the city council and serve at its discretion. Our responsibility is to protect and preserve properties within the city's designated historic districts. We adhere to the Wilmington Design Standards for historic districts and landmarks as well as the applicable North Carolina state laws and to assess whether exterior changes align with the unique character of the city's historic districts. It is important that we deliberate the merits of each request in a manner that provides a record of the basis for our decisions. Please remember that our deliberation should center on how a project meets the design standards and whether the proposed change is congruous or not. Commissioners, if you have received or been made aware of any outside evidence related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself. If you would also, if everyone would please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode, and thank you for that. I'd like to introduce staff to my left, Whitley. I'm sorry, is it Stannish? Stavish with a V, uh, assistant city attorney, uh, Linda Painter to Whitley's left, uh, planning director, Ben Riggle in front here, historic preservation planning manager, Alden Filnholm, uh, historic preservation planner, and Amy Bradshaw to our right, uh, the planning coordinator. Uh, if I can have commissioners introduce myself, please, audience left. Ross Thomaselli, Stephen Salke, uh, Christopher Yermal. Joan Keston, Allison Watts, Beth Rutledge. Uh, and staff, uh, Amy over here will swear in any witnesses who wish to speak this evening. If I can have all staff applicants and members of the public who wish to speak tonight, to please stand up and raise your right hand. Please note that if you're going to speak this evening, you do need to be sworn in, so you will need to stand up and raise your hand. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Uh, to begin. Uh regarding minutes from the May 14th meeting. Are there any modifications? Um, if not or questions. If not, please if someone would um make a motion to approve these. I move to approve. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. That passes unanimously. Um then uh I think we're on already to old business, the 814 McCumber Alley. Bening, Commissioners. Case one is for the proposed construction of a new hipped roof two-story house at the currently vacant parcel at 814 McCumber Alley. The proposed new house was initially presented at the May 14th HPC meeting and has since been had its design revised based on comments provided at the at that meeting to include changing the roofline from a funk gable to a hip design and adding additional windows on the side elevations. As described by staff, based on direct observation, the parcel at 814 McCumber Alley is currently a vacant grassy lot. The property is a non-contributing resource to the historic district residential. Revisions to all portions of the site are subject to design review in this district. The subject property is located on the south side of McCumber Alley, the second pool parcel east of its intersection with Polevgot Alley. Although currently vacant, the existing parcel was previously developed with a small two-story frame dwelling as depicted on the sandboard maps from 1915 through 1955. Based on publicly available historic aerial photographs, the house that was previously located on the parcel was demolished circuit 1965. Unfortunately, no photographs of that house could be found in the archives.