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Item 5C - 936 Mapleton AveAgenda Item # 5C, Page 1 M E M O R A N D U M December 6, 2017 TO: Landmarks Board FROM: Lesli Ellis, Comprehensive Planning Manager Debra Kalish, Senior Counsel, City Attorney’s Office James Hewat, Senior Historic Preservation Planner Marcy Cameron, Historic Preservation Planner Tony Wiese, Historic Preservation Intern SUBJECT: Public hearing and consideration of a Landmark Alteration Certificate to construct a 1,550 sq. ft. rear addition to the contributing house at 936 Mapleton Ave. in the Mapleton Hill Historic District pursuant to Section 9-11-18 of the Boulder Revised Code 1981 (HIS2017-00107). STATISTICS: 1. Site: 936 Mapleton Ave. 2. Zoning: RL-1 (Residential-Low 1) 3. Lot size: 13,783 sq. ft. 4. Building Size: 1,816 sq. ft. 5. Proposed new square footage: 1,550 sq. ft. above grade 6. Applicant: Steve Dodd 7. Owner: Marybeth Emerson 8. Date of Construction: 1895 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff considers the proposed construction of an addition to the 1895 house to not meet Section 9-11-18, B.R.C. 1981, Standards for Landmark Alteration Certificate Application, and to be largely inconsistent with the General Design Guidelines and the Mapleton Hill Design Guidelines. Staff recommends that the Landmarks Board adopt the following motion: I move that the Landmarks Board adopt the staff memorandum dated December 6, 2017, as the findings of the board and disapprove a Landmark Alteration Certificate for the construction of a 1,550 sq. ft. addition, as shown on plans dated November 2, 2017, Agenda Item # 5C Page 2 finding that the proposal does not meet the standards for issuance of a Landmark Alteration Certificate in Section 9-11-18, B.R.C. 1981, This recommendation is based upon staff’s opinion that the modification of the roof form of a contributing building will be inconsistent with Section 9-11-18, Boulder Revised Code 1981, the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines and the General Design Guidelines. SUMMARY: • On Oct. 5, 2017, the applicant submitted a completed Landmark Alteration Certificate to construct a second level addition that would require the replacement of an existing gambrel roof to the contributing house at 936 Mapleton Ave. • Constructed in 1895 and within the identified 1865-1946 period of significance for the Mapleton Hill Historic District, the house retains a high level of historic integrity to this period. Staff considers the house should be considered contributing to the Mapleton Hill Historic District. • Staff considers the proposed construction of an addition to the 1895 house to not meet Section 9-11-18, B.R.C. 1981, Standards for Landmark Alteration Certificate Application, and to be largely inconsistent with the General Design Guidelines and the Mapleton Hill Design Guidelines. • Staff recommends that disapproval of the application, and encourages the applicant to withdraw the current proposal for redesign. Agenda Item # 5C Page 3 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Figure 1. 936 Mapleton Ave. Tax Assessor Card photograph, c.1929 Photograph Courtesy the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History. Figure 2. Location map, 936 Mapleton Ave. Agenda Item # 5C Page 4 Figure 3. View of north elevation (façade), 2017. 13,783 square feet in size, the property at 936 Mapleton Ave. is located on the south side of Mapleton Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets. The 1 ½ story 1,866 sq. ft. Queen Anne house was constructed about 1894. The first story is constructed of red pressed brick with a gabled roof with two types of shingles on gable ends. Decorated bargeboard is featured at the gable peaks. The house features stone window sills, segmented corbelled arch lintels, circular arch windows, a two-sided bay window and a classically inspired full-width porch. A front gabled roofed garage with composition roofing, wood siding, corner- boards, and trim is situated at the east of the property. An overhead sixteen panel door opens south to the driveway and Mapleton Ave. A double-hung window and pedestrian door are located on the west side. The Historic Building Inventory Record indicates the accessory building was constructed pre-1932. A gabled roof residential building is situated at the southwest corner of the lot. It features a four-light window in the west gable end and double-hung windows Agenda Item # 5C Page 5 on the lower west side; narrow wood siding changes to a wider variety at the south shed roofed addition with one four-light window and paired multi-paned windows. East side has gable roof over center door flanked by two, double-hung windows. On the north side there is a one-story, one car garage attached to the building. All three buildings were constructed during the 1865-1946 period-of-significance for the Mapleton Hill Historic District, well preserved, and should be considered historically contributing resources. PROPERTY HISTORY: The 1929 tax assessor card lists the date of construction for this house as 1894 while the 1986 building inventory states this house was purchased by Thomas Fitzpatrick when it was first built in 1895 but the Boulder City Directory lists the first resident to be Bellman, W.S. (a cashier for the national state bank). By 1898 Fitzpatrick was the owner. Thomas Fitzpatrick was the special guest of “Buffalo Bill” Cody when Cody gave the last performance of the “Wild West Circus” in Boulder. He served on the city council for more than 20 years. His daughter, Jessie, lived in the house all her life, except during the two years when she served as field secretary for the Congregational Church. Jessie began teaching at Whittier School in 1908 and in 1924, she became principal of the school, retiring in 1947. She died in 1975. PAST ALTERATIONS: A landmark alteration certificate (LAC) was approved in 2016 for the restoration of the front porch to its c. 1929 condition (see figure 1.), and to repaint the house in an off-white color scheme. A hipped roof addition with small shed roof ell is located at the rear of the house. These portions of the building are visible in the 1929 Tax Assessor photograph of the house (see figure 1.) PROPOSED ADDITION: Plans call for the construction of a 1,550 sq. ft. addition to the rear of the house to increase the above ground area from 1,816 sq. ft. 3,282 sq. ft. Plans also call for the existing 345 sq. ft. basement to be enlarged to 1447 sq. ft. in size. The existing floor area of the property (including the accessory building and garage) is currently 2,703 sq. ft. The proposed floor area on the property would increase to 4,253 sq. ft. where the maximum floor area allowed on this property in the Residential-Low-1 (RL-1) zoned district is 4,562 sq. ft. Agenda Item # 5C Page 6 Figure 6. View of north elevation (rear), 2017. The proposed addition shows the removal of the 40 sq. ft. shed roof addition at the south-east side of the house (see figures 1 and 6). This addition appears to have been a screened in porch area that was enclosed about 1964. Plans also call for a portion of the rear hipped roof and dormer to be demolished make way for the two-story addition. Figure 7. Existing Footprint. Agenda Item # 5C Page 7 Figure 8. Proposed Footprint. The main level floor area increase is 745 sq. ft. (including replacement of the enclosed porch) with the proposed second-story addition area at 721 sq. ft. Agenda Item # 5C Page 8 Figure 9 & 10 Existing and Proposed North Elevation. Elevations show the addition to be designed with a modernist vocabulary utilizing flat roofs with brick clad walls to complement the brick of the existing house. The east wall of the proposed addition extends approximately 4’ beyond the outside wall of the historic east bay window. The proposed addition is shown to be 22’ in height, approximately 9’ lower than the 31’ high historic house. From the north, the one-story brick element of the addition will be visible and feature a two-over-one window. Agenda Item # 5C Page 9 Figures 10 & 11 Existing and Proposed East Elevation. The east face of the addition is fenestrated with two over one, double-hung windows and an eight light door on the first floor. A second-story door (alternately shown as a window) opens to an 8’ x 26’ roof deck area. A 22’ x 4’ stair well and railing is shown located along the south end of the east wall of the addition. Agenda Item # 5C Page 10 Figures 13 & 14 - Existing and Proposed West Elevation. The west face of the proposed addition shows the truncated hipped roof (now shown as a lower pitch shed roof), the first floor fenestrated with a set of 8’ high windows, and the second floor featuring a set of two over one windows. Agenda Item # 5C Page 11 Figures 15 & 16 - Existing and Proposed South Elevation. A covered 22’ x 6’ porch and balcony above is shown to project from to the 32’ wide, south face of the addition. The upper balcony is accessed via a set of five, 8’ high “nano-doors”. The first story porch is accessed by a set of eight, 8’ nano- doors. Agenda Item # 5C Page 12 Figure 17 - Northeast Perspective. Figure 18 - Southeast Perspective. Agenda Item # 5C Page 13 Figure 19 - Southwest Perspective. CRITERIA FOR THE BOARD’S DECISION Subsections 9-11-18(b) and (c), B.R.C. 1981, set forth the standards the Landmarks Board must apply when reviewing a request for a Landmark Alteration Certificate. (b) Neither the Landmarks Board nor the City Council shall approve a Landmark Alteration Certificate unless it meets the following conditions: (1) The proposed work preserves, enhances, or restores and does not damage or destroy the exterior architectural feature s of the landmark or the subject property within an historic district; (2) The proposed work does not adversely affect the special character or special historic, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value of the landmark and its site or the district; (3) The architectural style, arrangement, texture, color, arrangement of color, and materials used on existing and proposed constructions are compatible with the character of the existing landmark and its site or the historic district; (4) With respect to a proposal to demolish a building in an historic district, the proposed new construction to replace the building meets the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) above. Agenda Item # 5C Page 14 (c) In determining whether to approve a landmark alteration certificate, the Landmarks Board shall consider the economic feasibility of alternatives, incorporation of energy-efficient design, and enhanced access for the disabled. DESIGN GUIDELINE ANALYSIS 1. Does the proposed application preserve, enhance, or restore, and not damage or destroy the exterior architectural features of the landmark or the subject property within a historic district? The Queen Anne house was constructed about 1895, within the period of significance for the Mapleton Hill Historic District. Minimally altered, the building retains its original form, massing, scale, and materiality and should be considered contributing to the Mapleton Hill Historic District. Staff considers the current proposal not enhance and may damage architectural features of the historic house. 2. Does the proposed application adversely affect the special character or special historic, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value of the district? Staff considers the mass, scale and design of the addition to be significantly inconsistent with the General Design Guidelines and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines treatment of contributing buildings (see Design Guidelines Analysis section). 3. Is the architectural style, arrangement, texture, color, arrangement of color, and materials used on existing and proposed structures compatible with the character of the historic district? Staff finds that the mass, scale, form and materiality to be substantially incompatible with the character of the historic house and the historic district and largely inconsistent with the General Design Guidelines and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines. 4. Does the proposal to demolish the building within the Mapleton Hill Historic District and the proposed new construction to replace the proposed demolished building meet the requirements of paragraphs 9-11-18(b)(2) – (4)? N/A Agenda Item # 5C Page 15 ANALYSIS: The Historic Preservation Ordinance sets forth the standards the Landmarks Board must apply when reviewing a request for a Landmark Alteration Certificate. The Board has adopted the General Design Guidelines to help interpret the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The following is an analysis of the proposed new construction with respect to relevant guidelines. Design guidelines are intended to be used as an aid to appropriate design and not as a checklist of items for compliance. The following is an analysis of the proposal’s compliance with the appropriate sections of the General Design Guidelines and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines. GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES ADDITIONS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS General Design Guidelines 2.1 Site Design Site design includes a variety of character-defining elements of our historic districts and building. Individual structures are located within a framework of streets and public spaces that set the context for the neighborhood. How structures occupy their site, in terms of alignment, orientation, and spacing, creates much of the context of the neighborhood. Guideline Analysis Conforms? .7 Preserve a backyard area between the house and the garage, maintaining the general proportion of built mass to open space found within the area. Submitted site plan is not scaled, however, the current proposal shows the distance between the existing house and garage being half of the current distance. Maybe 2.4 Parking and Driveways Historically, private parking was limited to the rear of the lot with access from the alley. There are instance where curb cuts have been added to the front yards, but these are generally alterations and do not represent traditional parking patterns. Agenda Item # 5C Page 16 Guideline Analysis Conforms? .5 Historically appropriate paving material, such as flagstone or brick, can be used to break up larger parking areas. Proposal does not include details on hardscaping on property. Maybe .7 Paving driveways or garage access areas with asphalt or concrete gives a modern look and is generally inappropriate. Flagstone or brick wheel strips are the preferred alternative. Proposal does not include details on hardscaping on property. Maybe 3.3 Decks Decks are a modern expression of porches that were not found on historic buildings. Great care needs to be taken in designing decks to fit into the character of the historic district. Because decks are not traditionally found on historic buildings they should be avoided or their appearance minimized – they should be subordinate to the house in terms of scale and detailing. Guideline Analysis Conforms? .1 First floor decks are inappropriate in the front of a house. Locate a first floor deck at the rear of a house.. Balcony above porch is 133 sq. ft. and located at the rear of the house. Yes GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES -ADDITIONS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS, 4.0. 4.1 Protection of Historic Structures and Sites The primary concern of the Landmarks Board in reviewing additions to historic buildings is the protection of the existing conditions and the character of the site and district. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .1 Construct new additions so that there is a least possible loss of historic fabric and so that the character-defining features of the historic building are not destroyed, Proposed addition is at rear of house, but results in removal of significant areas of historic rear additions. Maybe Agenda Item # 5C Page 17 damaged or destroyed .2 New additions should be constructed so that they may be removed in the future without damaging the historic structure. Rear wall of historic house appears to be completely removed. Consider retaining rear wall and creating passage between historic house and addition. Maybe .3 It is not appropriate to construct an addition that will detract from the overall historic character of the principal building and/or the site, or if it will require the removal of significant building elements or site features. Staff considers the proposed design is not compatible with the existing house, and will detract from its historic character which is intact to historic period. Significant public visibility from Mapleton Avenue, especially from the southwest. Visibility from the alley is unclear. No 4.2 Distinction from Historic Structures All additions should be discernible from the historic structure. When the original design is duplicated the historic evolution of the building becomes unclear. Instead, additional should be compatible with the historic architecture but clearly recognizable as new construction. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .1 Distinguish an addition from the historic building, but maintain visual continuity between the two. One common method is to step the addition back and/or set it in slightly from the historic structure. Proposed addition is significantly lower than the historic house, but wider than it. At 32’ in width, southwest corner of addition extends several feet west of the west wall of the historic house. Transition between flat roof and steeply pitch gable appears to create visual discontinuity. No .2 Do not directly copy historic elements. Instead, interpret historic elements in simpler ways in the addition. In form, the addition respects the historic house and does not seek to replicate historic elements, but could more clearly interpret historic elements and proportions. Maybe .3 Additions should be simpler in detail than the original structure. An addition that exhibits a more ornate style or implies an earlier period of architecture than that of the original is inappropriate. In general, the addition is simpler than the historic house but not subordinate to it in terms of mass and scale. Reduce size, scale and architectural vocabulary to better address this guideline. No Agenda Item # 5C Page 18 .4 The architectural styles of additions should not imitate the historic style but must be compatible with it. Contemporary style additions are possible, but require the utmost attention to these guidelines to be successful. The use of two distinct historic styles, such as adding Tudor-style half-timbering to a Classic Cottage, is inappropriate. Proposed addition is contemporary, but transition from historic house is abrupt – highly horizontal form seems incompatible with vertical proportions of the main house. Addition could better reference historic elements more successfully in proportion, fenestration, etc. No 4.3 Compatibility with Historic Buildings Introducing new construction that contrasts sharply with an existing historic structure or site detracts from the visual continuity that marks our historic districts. While additions should be distinguishable from the historic structure, they must not contrast so sharply as to detract from the original building and/or the site. Additions should never overwhelm historic structures or the site, in mass, scale or detailing. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .1 An addition should be subordinate to the historic building, limited in size and scale so that it does not diminish or visually overpower the building. Addition will have public visibility from Mapleton Avenue – is not subordinate to the historic house in terms of width and form. Addition is 85% percent of the floor area of the historic house. Wall dominated addition on roof dominated house. Addition might be sided with wood rather than brick to help diminish mass and scale No .2 Design an addition to be compatible with the historic building in mass, scale, materials and color. For elevations visible from public streets, the relationship of solids to voids in the exterior walls should also be compatible. Addition will have public visibility from Mapleton Avenue – is not subordinate to the historic house in terms of width and form. Addition is 85% percent of the floor area of the existing historic house. Wall dominated addition on roof dominated house. Proportion and shapes of voids could better reference those on the historic house. No .4 Reflect the original symmetry or asymmetry of the historic Symmetry of the original house is generally reflected in fenestration of Maybe Agenda Item # 5C Page 19 building. the proposed addition, but proportions and shapes of voids could better reference those found on the historic house. .5 Preserve the vertical and horizontal proportion of a building's mass. Highly horizontal form of proposed addition is not compatible with vertical proportions of the historic house. No 4.4 Compatibility with Historic Site and Setting Additions should be designed and located so that significant site features, including mature trees, are not lost or obscured. The size of the addition should not overpower the site or dramatically alter its historic character. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .1 Design new additions so that the overall character of the site, site topography, character-defining site features and trees are retained. It does not appear the topography of the property will be significantly affected by the proposed addition. Yes .2 Locate new additions on an inconspicuous elevation of the historic building, generally the rear one. Locating an addition to the front of a structure is inappropriate because it obscures the historic facade of a building. Addition is at the rear of the historic house but extends beyond plane of the historic house at the west and will be visible from Mapleton Avenue. Reduce mass, scale and width of the addition. No .3 Respect the established orientation of the original building and typical alignments in the area. Addition creates a significantly more wall-dominated and horizontal building with an increase in building’s length from 48’ to 80’. Reduce mass and scale, revise design to be more compatible with vertical proportions of the historic house. No .4 Preserve a backyard area between the house and the garage, maintaining the general proportion of built mass to open space found within the area. See Guideline Submitted site plan is not scaled, however, the distance between the existing house and garage will be reduced to have of the current distance. Proposal approaches Maybe Agenda Item # 5C Page 20 2.1.1. maximum floor area allowed in RL-1. 4.5 Key Building Elements Roofs, porches, dormers, windows and doors are some of the most important character-defining elements of any building. As such, they require extra attention to assure that they complement the historic architecture. In addition to the guidelines below, refer also to Section 3.0 Alterations for related suggestions. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .1 Maintain the dominant roofline and orientation of the roof form to the street. Roofline of proposed addition does not maintain the form or orientation of the historic house. Redesign for review by the Ldrc. No .2 Rooflines on additions should be lower than and secondary to the roofline of the original building. Roofline of addition is significantly lower than the historic house. Yes .3 The existing roof form, pitch, eave depth, and materials should be used for all additions. Roofline of proposed addition does not maintain the form or orientation of the historic house. Intersection between historic house and addition is abrupt. No .5 Maintain the proportion, general style, and symmetry or asymmetry of the existing window patterns. Fenestration of addition could be modified to better reference pattern and proportions on the historic house. Large banks of “nano doors” at rear are incompatible with character of main house. No .6 Use window shapes that are found on the historic building. Do not introduce odd-shaped windows such as octagonal, triangular, or diamond-shaped See above. No Agenda Item # 5C Page 21 MAPLETON HILL DESIGN GUIDELINES –MAJOR EXTERIOR RENOVATION, ADDITIONS AND SECOND STORIES, T. F. Massing While the specific details of the historic architectural styles of Mapleton Hill vary considerably, the most significant and identifiable feature of a building is its massing. Buildings of Italianate styling are square and vertical. Bungalows are low and rectangular, while Queen Anne styling is asymmetrical with many projections and details. Replication of stylistic detailing is not encouraged or necessary, however, the form which defines the building, should be respected. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? 1. Any addition to a building should preserve the existing symmetry or asymmetry. Symmetry of the original house is generally reflected in fenestration of the proposed addition, but proportions and shapes of voids could better reference those found on the historic house. Maybe 2. The vertical or horizontal proportion of a building’s mass should be preserved. The addition will impact the vertical proportions of the historic house when viewed from Mapleton Avenue. No T. Major Exterior Renovation, Additions and Second Stories. Large additions and additional stories to a building frequently change the character of the structure. The diversity that characterizes the historic district is a result of the variety in the sizes of buildings and the differing architectural styles. A design response that respects this diversity is most appropriate. Guideline Analysis Meets Guideline? .4 New additions should be designed and constructed so that the character-defining features of the historic building are not radically changed, obscured, damaged or destroyed in the process of rehabilitation. The removal of the rear addition roof, dormer and mudroom will be lost. Maybe .5 New design and construction should always be differentiated from older portions of a building; however, the addition should Proposed addition is distinct from house in form, detailing and materiality but not compatible with the historic house in terms of form, No Agenda Item # 5C Page 22 respect the existing roof forms, and building scale and massing. scale and massing. With the exception of the 1960s enclosure of the rear screened porch and removal of the front porch and balcony railings, the Queen Anne house at 936 Mapleton Avenue is highly intact to its original construction (see figure 1) and contributes to the historic character of Mapleton Hill. Staff considers the rear of the house the best location for construction of an addition, but that such an addition should proportional to, and compatible with, the historic house, property and district as a whole. In evaluating of the current proposal against the design guidelines and standards for issuance of a landmark alteration certificate, staff is of the opinion that significant modifications need to be made to the proposal to ensure that the addition is subordinate to and compatible with the Queen Anne House. To this end, staff suggests that the mass and scale of the addition be reduced and that the design approach be reconsidered to be more in keeping with the character of the house. This could be achieved by using the existing rear addition as a connection between the historic house and new construction and/or constructing a more modest one-story addition. Staff considers issuance of a Landmark Alteration Certificate for the currently proposed addition to the contributing house to be inconsistent with the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the General Design Guidelines, and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Guidelines. As such, staff recommends disapproves of the application finding that it is substantially in consistent with Section 9-11-18(a) & (b)(1)-(4), B.R.C. 1981, the General Design Guidelines, and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines. Staff encourages the applicant to withdraw the current proposal and to work with staff to redesign the addition to be consistent with design guidelines and standards for issuance of a landmark alteration certificate. If the Landmarks Board disapproves the application, a substantially similar application may not be submitted within one year of the date of the disapproval per 9-11-17(c) of the Boulder Revised Code 1981. Agenda Item # 5C Page 23 FINDINGS: Provided the conditions outlined in the staff recommendation are met, staff recommends that the Landmarks Board disapprove the application and adopt the following findings: 1. The proposed new construction will not meet the standards in Section 9-11-18 of the Boulder Revised Code 1981. 2. The proposed construction will have an adverse effect on the value of the landmark property, as it is incompatible in terms of mass, scale, and design with the character of the historic house and with other buildings in the district. 3. In terms of mass, scale, and design, the proposal is inconsistent with Section 9-11-18 (a) & (b)(1)-(4), B.R.C.1981, the General Design Guidelines, and the Mapleton Hill Historic District Design Guidelines. ATTACHMENTS: A: Tax Assessors Card B: Photographs C: Applicant’s Materials Agenda Item # 5C Page 24 Attachment A: Tax Assessors Card Tax Assessor Card Front, 1929. Agenda Item # 5C Page 25 Tax Assessor Card Back, 1929. Agenda Item # 5C Page 26 Attachment B: Current Photographs 936 Mapleton Ave., East Elevation. 936 Mapleton Ave., North elevation . Agenda Item # 5C Page 27 936 Mapleton Ave., South Elevation. 936 Mapleton Ave., West Elevation. Agenda Item # 5C Page 28 Attachment C: Applicant Materials Agenda Item # 5C Page 29 Agenda Item # 5C Page 30 Agenda Item # 5C Page 31 Agenda Item # 5C Page 32 Agenda Item # 5C Page 33 Agenda Item # 5C Page 34 Agenda Item # 5C Page 35 Agenda Item # 5C Page 36 Agenda Item # 5C Page 37 Agenda Item # 5C Page 38 Agenda Item # 5C Page 39 Agenda Item # 5C Page 40 Agenda Item # 5C Page 41 Agenda Item # 5C Page 42 Agenda Item # 5C Page 43 Agenda Item # 5C Page 44