The project has some excellent features, including the restoration of the north elevation. When the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) considered this application on March 6, 2014, the HPRB denied the concept as inconsistent with the historic preservation act because of the amount of demolition.
Following the March 6, 2014 hearing, applicant submitted three sets of plans dated April 13, 2014, May 6, 2014, and June 12, 2014 (hereafter April, May, June plans). The April plans showed that the project had been greatly improved. The April plans reduced the amount of demolition (including retaining the roof) and omitted a roof deck that had been included in earlier plans. However, the May plans once again called for demolition, including demolition of the existing roof, and adding a roof deck. We believed that the May plans were not compatible with the Capitol Hill Historic District. The June plans eliminate some demolition of rear walls on the first and second story, retaining portions of these walls as interior walls and retain more interior framing than the April or May plans. But, the June plans still call for demolishing the roof and adding a roof deck. While reducing demolition of walls on the second and third story is a step in the right direction, the most important demolition element, the roof, remains a problem. For this reason we believe that the June plans are not compatible with the Capitol Hill Historic District Act. We also share the concerns raised in the staff report concerning visibility of the third story.
The entire text of the testimony: CHRSHPRB14-043test1329ConstAveJune2014ep