Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2024 04 29

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REQUEST: The applicant requests that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approve the demolition of the primary structure at 1234 Jefferson Avenue. A subcommittee of the HPC referred the request to the full Historic Preservation Commission. SUMMARY: The applicant is requesting approval to demolish the existing principal structure and detached garage at 1234 Jefferson Avenue. According to the Louisville Municipal Code (LMC) Section 15.36.020, a demolition is an act that removes "fifty percent or more of the roof area as measured from directly above," or "fifty percent or more of the exterior walls of a building as measured contiguously around the building". Under section 15.36.200 of the LMC, if the Commission finds that the building may have historical significance under the criteria, the Commission may place a stay on the demolition as long as "no permit for demolition, moving or removal shall be issued for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date the permit application was accepted." In addition, 15.36.200 states, "The commission will make all reasonable efforts to expedite resolution of the application or request. " The purpose of demolition reviews, according to LMC 15.36.200, is as follows: The purpose of the review of permit applications for demolition, moving, and removal of buildings constructed in or before 1955 is to prevent the loss of buildings that may have historical or architectural significance. The purpose of this chapter is also to provide the time necessary to initiate designation as an individual landmark or to consider alternatives for the building. Staff recommendation: Staff recommends placing a 90-day stay on the demolition starting from the date of application, which was March 13, 2024, which would provide approximately a month from the date of the hearing for discussions between the applicant and members of the HPC. The stay would expire on June 11, 2024. ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY: The property at 1234 Jefferson Avenue includes a primary structure and detached garage. The primary structure is a one-story, side -gabled building. The "Stories in Places" report provides a residential historic context for Louisville from 2018 and lists the type of structure as National. National is a folk style popular between the 1850s and 1930s enabled by the expansion of railroads and access to cheaper lumber, combined with the simple, older forms of previous decades. The National style has many different styles that can be applied to the form, such as Victorian and Greek Revival. 1234 Jefferson does not appear to have any extant ornamentation or styling from its original construction. The building permit file shows that there was a permit for a rear addition that enclosed a covered porch in 1998. There are no other major permits in the record, though the home does not maintain its original siding. The 1950 Assessor's Card does not have a clear view of the home, however, the two front windows appear to be in the same size and location today, though they are not the same windows. The floor plan shown on the Card appears similar to today, and shows that there was an addition in the 1950s/early 1960s. Overall, the primary structure appears to maintain integrity in the form of the midcentury footprint and front window sizes and locations. In addition, the simple form and orientation of the home is typical of National homes, and may be relatively unchanged from its original construction circa 1910. K K,