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[Landmark Commission on August 18, 2025.]
WE'RE GOING TO START THE MEETING OFF WITH ATTENDANCE. COMMISSIONER ALLEN.PRESENT. VICE CHAIRPERSON BOURGEOIS. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER CHAISTAIN IS ABSENT. CHAIRPERSON CLICK.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FITZ IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER LANGDALE.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER STETZEL-THOMPSON.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER THIERRY. PRESENT. AND EX-OFFICIO COUNCIL MEMBER SHARON LEWIS.
THANK YOU. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH ANY OF OUR CASES TODAY? NO. OKAY. DID EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING ON AUGUST 4TH? THERE ARE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
NO. OKAY. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY NON-AGENDA ITEMS? NO. OKAY. WE'LL JUMP IN, DO BUSINESS. WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR FIRST CASE, 25LC-034 A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS REQUEST AT 302 MOODY AVENUE. BEFORE WE DO THAT, IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND INTRODUCE A NEW STAFF MEMBER.
REBECCA [INAUDIBLE] SHE IS SITTING IN THE FIRST ROW THERE.
SHE HAS JUST JOINED US ONE WEEK AGO AS A NEW PLANNER.
OH FUN, WELCOME. SHE'S GOING TO BE OBSERVING TODAY, BUT YOU'LL SEE HER START [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.
SO STAFF REPORT FOR 25LC-034. THIS IS 302 MOODY 21ST STREET.
7 NOTICES WERE SENT, 2 RETURN TO THOSE 2 IN FAVOR.
BACKGROUND, THIS IS THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING, WHICH IS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING HAS HAD SEVERAL PREVIOUS LANDMARK COMMISSION APPROVALS THAT HAVE EXPIRED.
THE MOST RECENT APPROVAL WAS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AND DOORS. THAT WAS 22LC-017.
THAT APPROVAL WAS RECEIVED ON MAY 16TH, 2022 AND EXPIRED ON MAY 16TH, 2024.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. THE APPLICANTS REQUESTING A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING SITE WORK EXTERIOR MASONRY, ENTRANCES, STOREFRONTS, WINDOWS AND ROOFS.
PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT A FOR DETAILED SCOPE, BUT NOTE THAT THE SCOPE INCLUDES ITEMS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS GENERAL REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AND DO NOT REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE LANDMARK COMMISSION, SUCH AS SIDEWALK REPAIRS, BRICK AND STONE CLEANING, REPOINTING, AND REROOFING.
THE THC AND NPS REVIEWS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE LANDMARK COMMISSION REVIEW.
HOWEVER, THEIR REVIEWS TEND TO BE STRICTER IN THEIR APPLICATION OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS, AND ANY CONFLICT WITH THE LANDMARK COMMISSION IS UNLIKELY.
PLEASE NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.
CONFORMANCE STAFF FINDS THAT THE REQUEST GENERALLY CONFORMS TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
THE ALTERATIONS ARE COMPATIBLE IN MATERIAL SCALE AND PLACEMENT.
CHANGES ARE CONCENTRATED ON SECONDARY ELEVATIONS OR REPLICATE DOCUMENTED HISTORIC CONDITIONS.
THE WINDOW AND DOOR MODIFICATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE, AND THE ROOFTOP MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT IS SET BACK FROM THE PRIMARY FACADES AND THE VISIBILITY IS MINIMIZED. HOWEVER, STAFF HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF SIMULATED STUCCO OR EXTERIOR INSULATION AND FINISHED SYSTEM.
ALSO KNOWN AS EIFS. EIFS IS A TYPE OF SYNTHETIC STUCCO.
INSTEAD OF BEING MADE FROM SOLID CEMENT PLASTER LIKE TRADITIONAL STUCCO.
IT'S A LAYERED SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF INSULATION BOARD, OFTEN FOAM ATTACHED TO THE WALL.
THE EIFS IS PROPOSED FOR THE EAST FACADE OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING BUILDING.
THE EAST WALL WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK CLAD IN STUCCO.
THE BRICK AND STUCCO WERE REMOVED IN THE MID 2010'S, LEAVING THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE VISIBLE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REBUILD THE WALL WITH SIMULATED STUCCO.
THE DESIGN STANDARD STATE GENUINE STUCCO, IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY BUILDING MATERIALS IN DOWNTOWN GALVESTON, AND IS A PREFERRED PRIMARY EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIAL, ACCORDING TO THE LOCATING FACADE IMPROVEMENTS CHART ON PAGE 29 OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS, THE LOCATION OF THE WORK IS IN LOCATION C, LESS VISIBLE SECONDARY WALL.
MORE FLEXIBILITY AND TREATMENT MAY BE CONSIDERED, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPATIBLE REPLACEMENT OR ALTERATION, BUT PRESERVATION IS STILL PREFERRED. MORE FLEXIBILITY MAY BE CONSIDERED IN LOCATION C.
SEE THE DESIGN STANDARDS CALL SPECIFICALLY FOR BUILDING MATERIALS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT, AND NOTES THAT THE PREDOMINANT BUILDING MATERIALS IN THE STRAND MECHANIC HISTORIC DISTRICT ARE BRICK,
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STONE, AND STUCCO. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE USE OF GENUINE STUCCO OVER MASONRY IN PLACE OF THE PROPOSED EIFS.STAFF RECOMMENDATION, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
SPECIFIC CONDITION 1. THE EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS SHALL CONFORM TO THE DESIGN, MATERIALS AND PLACEMENT PRESENTED IN ATTACHMENT A OF THE STAFF REPORT WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATION. A PROPOSED EIFS SHALL BE OMITTED AND REPLACED WITH GENUINE STUCCO OVER MASONRY.
ITEMS 2 THROUGH 6 ARE STANDARD, WE HAVE SOME PICTURES.
THIS IS A SUBJECT PROPERTY. IT'S THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING ON 21ST STREET.
THIS IS THE BACK OF THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING AND WHERE WE FIND THE AMERICAN PRINTING BUILDING, WHICH IS THAT SMALLER PORTION. IT'S ATTACHED TO THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING, BUT IS CONSIDERED A SEPARATE BUILDING.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MASONRY HAS BEEN REMOVED IN IT'S JUST THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS ARE VISIBLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE DRAWINGS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET FOR ALL 4 FACADES.
AND JUST CLICK THROUGH THOSE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND WEST.
AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU CATHERINE.
DO COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
I HAVE 1 QUESTION. IS THIS THE SAME REQUEST THAT WAS NOTED IN THE BACKGROUND? SO THE THERE MORE WINDOWS PROPOSED FOR REPLACEMENT.
AND THE EIFS WAS NOT REQUESTED IN THE LAST CASE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO.
OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-034.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE PROJECT? YOU COULD SIGN IN AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR US, PLEASE.
ABSOLUTELY. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DYLAN DEVITO.
I'M HERE WITH A CONSULTANT OF MINE, NICK KRAUS.
HE WILL BE ASSISTING HERE TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
THIS IS NICK KRAUS FROM HERITAGE CONSULTING GROUP.
I'M ON THE TEAMS MEETING AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE VIRTUALLY TODAY.
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE WALL DID NOT EXIST. SO THEREFORE WE DO NOT FEEL THERE IS A SENSE OF PRESERVATION THERE.
INSTEAD, WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE EIFS IN ORDER TO HAVE A MORE FLEXIBILITY PER THE DESIGN STANDARDS ON MORE STREET FACING ELEVATIONS. AND ALSO TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THC AS WELL.
THE EIFS HELPS US PRESERVES FUNDS AS WELL AS PRESERVING FUNDS FOR MORE CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE, ALONG WITH THAT DYLAN, THAT THIS EXTERIOR SCOPE OF WORK HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROCESS. AND THIS TREATMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY, AS WELL AS THE OVERALL EXTERIOR SCOPE HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THC. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE.
HELLO. LAURA BOURGEOIS WITH GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW EVERYTHING. IT HASN'T BEEN SUBMITTED TO US. BUT WE DO HAVE COVENANTS, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON THIS BUILDING. AND WHILE WE'RE.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MISS BOURGEOIS.
YES. DOES GHF HAVE AN OPINION ON GENUINE STUCCO VERSUS ETHOS BEING USED AS AN EXTERIOR? IN GENERAL, OUR STANDS ON REPLACEMENT MATERIAL IS USUALLY ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STANDARDS.
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HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS, THEY HAVE BEEN FAILURES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL.AND SO WATERFRONT RESTORATION, THINGS THAT WE SEE HERE, YOU KNOW, SUN IS THE SUN AND SALT IN THE AIR TENDS TO DETERIORATE THESE MATERIALS FASTER THAN IF YOU'RE, LIKE, IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THEY'RE TESTED OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO I THINK WE WOULD JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION IF WE WERE TO APPROVE IT AS THE SUBSTITUTE MATERIAL.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IS LIKE THE ACTUAL RECIPE FOR THE MORTAR, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS IN THE 90S WERE REPOINTED USING PORTLAND CEMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT GENERALLY THE STANDARD ANYMORE.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE TODAY? NO.
OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL WITH STAFF CONDITIONS AS WRITTEN FOR.
CASE NUMBER 25LC-034. SECOND. OKAY, SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON WITH OUR NEXT ITEM.
WE HAVE 25LC-035 1923 AVENUE M. THANK YOU. AS NOTED, THIS IS AT 1923 AVENUE M, A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR ALTERATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING ENCLOSING EXISTING REAR PORCHES.
THERE WERE 6 PUBLIC NOTICES [INAUDIBLE] OF THOSE WERE RETURNED.
ACCORDING TO THE SUBMITTAL, THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF PROPOSED MATERIALS. A SMOOTH, HARDIE LAP SIDING OVER WOOD FRAMING SMOOTH HARDIE TRIM AND CORNER BOARDS, EXISTING WOOD WINDOW CORNICE TRIMS TO BE SAVED AND RELOCATED, IN VINYL CLAD WOOD WINDOWS TO MATCH THE SIZE AND HISTORIC PROFILES OF EXISTING WINDOWS.
PLEASE NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE ON THE STAFF REPORT AS WELL.
AS STAFF FINDINGS OF THE REQUEST GENERALLY CONFORMS TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS, THE PORCHES AND LOCATION D NOT TYPICALLY VISIBLE REAR FACADE, WHICH OF COURSE ALLOWS FOR A GOOD DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPATIBLE REPLACEMENT.
ALTERATION NOT VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC REALM IN LOCATION D, SMOOTH HARDIE SIDING AND TRIM MAY BE CONSIDERED, AND IN FACT A CHANGE OF MATERIALS IN THIS CASE CAN SERVE TO DIFFERENTIATE NEW MODIFICATIONS FROM HISTORIC.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PROPOSING TO SALVAGE AND REUSE THIS HISTORIC WINDOW CORNICES FROM THE WINDOW OPENINGS IN THE EXISTING WALLS, WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE. I THINK WE HAVE A FEW PHOTOS OF THOSE, NEW WINDOWS PROPOSED TO BE VINYL CLAD WOULD HAVE A 2OVER 2 LIGHT CONFIGURATION, WHICH WILL MATCH THE LIGHT CONFIGURATION OF THE EXISTING HISTORIC WINDOWS AND HAVE HISTORIC PROPORTIONS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR, MORE ACCURATELY SO THAN MODERN ALL WOOD WINDOWS.
STAFF ALSO NOTES THAT AN EXISTING HISTORIC WINDOWS AND EXISTING WALLS SHOULD BE REUSED IF AVAILABLE, OR RETAINED FOR FUTURE RE-USE, OR PROVIDED FOR SALVAGE TO OTHERS, WHICH IS A TYPICAL CONDITION OF OURS.
WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS HERE. YOU HAVE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND A SITE PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE HAVE SOME OF THE APPLICANT'S DRAWINGS, CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS, AND ALSO SHOWING WHERE THE PORCH IS IN RELATION TO THE HOUSE. YOU CAN SEE IT IS IN THE REAR FACING THE ALLEY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS OF THE EXISTING BACK PORCH PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND HERE WE HAVE THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST.
AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU DANIEL.
ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I DO. SO I SEE THAT YOU'LL SAY EXISTING EXISTING WINDOWS SHOULD BE REUSED IF POSSIBLE.
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AND STAFF RECOMMENDS EITHER REUSING THEM IN SOME MANNER OR RETAINING THEM ON SITE FOR FUTURE REUSE, OR MAKING THEM AVAILABLE FOR SALVAGE. THIS IS A YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TYPICALLY RECOMMEND TO TRY TO SAVE ANY WINDOWS THAT ARE SAVE ABLE.KARINA, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE APPLICANT'S PHOTOS? YOU CAN KIND OF SEE SOME OF THOSE WINDOWS, I THINK, AND A COUPLE OF THOSE PHOTOS.
BUT YEAH, I MIGHT DEFER THAT QUESTION TO THE APPLICANT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-035.
IS ANYBODY HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT? IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN FOR US, PLEASE.
AND HERE WITH MY CLIENTS. AND LUCY WHO ARE THE PROUD NEW OWNER OF THIS HISTORIC HOME.
AND OUR CONTRACTOR, BRITTON FOSTER. FOSTER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, WHO'S WORKED ON LEWIS DESIGN PROJECTS FOR MANY YEARS AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES FOR US. SO I HAVE OUR WHOLE TEAM HERE.
OKAY. SO [INAUDIBLE] IN THE DESCRIPTION IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S AN L-SHAPED PORCHES, PART OF IT'S BEEN ENCLOSED AT THE TOP.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG AGO THOSE WERE, BUT BEFORE, BEFORE THEY PURCHASED THE HOUSE, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THAT STAIRCASE HAD BEEN REMOVED. BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ONE BACK VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.
THE WINDOWS YOU SEE ON THOSE WALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT.
SO THERE ARE NO WINDOWS TO BE REPLACED. TO BE MOVED.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF DOORS, BUT THE TRIM IS STILL IN THE WALL.
THE CORNICE TRIM, WHERE THEY JUST CLOSED UP THE WINDOWS, TOOK THEM OUT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT TRIM AND REUSE IT ON THE NEW WALLS ENCLOSING THAT PORCH.
SO WE KEEP SOME OF THOSE FEATURES AND AND MATCH THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ALL NEW WINDOWS IN THAT.
IN ADDITION TO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IN THOSE 2 FACADES WITH WINDOWS AND DOORS THAT MATCH PROPORTIONS AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND IN THOSE PORTIONS OF THAT WALL WILL HAVE TO BE WINDSTORM RATED.
SO WE'LL NEED GOOD WINDSTORM WINDOWS IN THOSE WALLS.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE PRIMARILY FOR NEW INTERIOR SPACE.
AN ELEVATOR DOWNSTAIRS A LAUNDRY ROOM UTILITY ACCESS OUT TO THE POOL UPSTAIRS IS GOING TO HAVE A NEW BATHROOM IN IT. AND THE SITTING AREA AND THE ELEVATOR, OBVIOUSLY IN THE STAIRCASE GOING UP, IT'LL ALL BE ENCLOSED, CONDITIONED SPACE. AND WE'RE STAYING WITHIN THE SAME FOOTPRINT UNDER THE SAME ROOF LINE.
AND WE DO NOT PLAN TO CHANGE ANY OF THAT. AND I THINK I THINK I'VE COVERED THAT.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? ONE REAL QUICK YOU SAID THE WINDOWS WERE REMOVED.
IS THAT LIKE IN THE PAST THEY WERE? WAY IN THE PAST.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO COME UP. AND IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT IT.
ABSOLUTELY. THEY CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE INSIGHT AS WELL.
THANKS, GREG. COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN FOR US, PLEASE? SURE. MY NAME IS STANTON BELL AND LUCY, AND WE'RE FROM SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING THIS PROPERTY.
IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE LOVE GALVESTON.
APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S TIME AND SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, AND IT TAKES TIME OUT OF YOUR OWN DAYS, BUT AS FAR AS THIS PROPERTY GOES, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. LIKE GREG WAS SAYING, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOUSE, THE REAR STAIRCASE WAS NOT IN PLACE.
AND SO WE DO WANT TO PUT THE STAIRCASE BACK IN PLACE.
THERE ARE NO WINDOWS ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE.
SO IT WOULD BE ADDING WINDOWS THAT LOOK THE EXACT SAME AS THE EXISTING WINDOWS.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT GREG AND BRITTON, BECAUSE LUCY AND I CAN'T DO IT.
BUT A LITTLE FAMILY HISTORY ABOUT OURS. WE'RE BOTH FROM HAVE FAMILY FROM GALVESTON.
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AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE APPROACHING THE 125TH YEAR.AND HE PERISHED ALONG WITH HIS 2 DAUGHTERS WHILE TRYING TO SAVE THEM.
BUT HIS 2 SONS,1 OF THEM, WHO WAS MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, SURVIVED.
AND THAT'S HOW OUR FAMILY IS FROM THERE TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE HEARD OF IT. IT'S AT 2818 BALL AND IT'S THE NOAH'S ARK HOUSE, AND THAT'S WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP, AND SHE PASSED AWAY IN 76. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY TIES.
LUCY'S MOTHER WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE ON THE ISLAND, ALWAYS VERY PROUD.
SHE WAS A BOI, YOU KNOW.[LAUGHTER] SO, ANYWAY, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TIES TO THE ISLAND.
WE'RE THRILLED TO BE PART OF IT NOW. SO. AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AFTER WE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETED THIS, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND I'LL SIGN IN.
THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE APPLICANT.
NO. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NO. OKAY. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
GO AHEAD. I MAKE A MOTION ON 25LC-036 TO APPROVE FOR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'LL SECOND. 2305. DID YOU SAY 036? THAT'S WHAT I'M 0306. YEAH. 035 NO. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR LAST ITEM.
WE HAVE 25LC-036, THAT SAME ADDRESS. ANOTHER REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
YES. AND THIS ONE WILL BE TO DEMOLISH A REAR STRUCTURE L WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE STAFF REPORT.
ONCE AGAIN, 6 PUBLIC NOTICE IS SENT. NONE OF THOSE WERE RETURNED.
THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO BUILD A NEW GARAGE APARTMENT AT A FUTURE DATE.
BUT SINCE NO DETAILS OF THAT PROJECT WERE PROVIDED AT THE TIME THAT THE STAFF REPORT WAS WRITTEN, THE REVIEW IS ONLY FOR DEMOLITION. I DO BELIEVE THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO BRING A SECOND COA FORWARD AT SOME FUTURE TIME FOR THE DESIGN OF THAT BUILDING.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT A OF THE STAFF REPORT.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE.
STAFF FINDS THE DEMOLITION OF THE GARAGE APARTMENT CONFORMS TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSE IN QUESTION WAS BUILT CIRCA 1917, ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC STRONG PROHIBITIONS AGAINST DEMOLISHING ALLEY HOUSES. THIS HISTORIC SIZE INVENTORY DOES NOT NOTE THE REAR STRUCTURE OF THIS LOCATION, PARTICULARLY BEING HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT, AND THE APPLICANT ALSO NOTES IN THEIR NARRATIVE THAT THE EXISTING BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED TO THE POINT THAT REPAIR IS INFEASIBLE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT HISTORIC MATERIALS MAY BE PRESENT.
STAFF DOES ENCOURAGE REUSE OF ANY MATERIALS DISCOVERED IN SOME WAY, EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE FUTURE GARAGE APARTMENT OR IN OTHER PROJECTS THROUGH SALVAGE, WAREHOUSE AND SIMILAR CONVEYANCE. ONCE AGAIN, WE USUALLY ENCOURAGE THAT FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, SO STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS REQUEST BE APPROVED AS WELL, WITH SPECIFIC CONDITIONS 1 THROUGH 2 AND STANDARD CONDITIONS 3 THROUGH 7.
WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS. SUBJECT PROPERTY. HERE'S THE SITE PLAN AND SOME PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT OF THE EXISTING REAR STRUCTURE.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S KIND OF TUCKED BACK IN THE CORNER OF THE PROPERTY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST.
AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU. DANIEL.
ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-036.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
HELLO AGAIN. HELLO. GREG LEWIS. LEWIS IS ON GRIP AGAIN.
ONCE AGAIN ON THE PROPERTY ON 1923 AVENUE M. THIS IS A LITTLE GARAGE, APARTMENT, GARAGE UNDERNEATH AN APARTMENT ON TOP.
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AND LUCY HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE SANBORN MAPS AND FOUND IT ON ON ONE THAT HAD A LITTLE NOTE WRITTEN BESIDE IT THAT SAID 1917. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING IN PERMITS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ABOUT THIS BUILDING.SO MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT THAT'S THE BUILDING THAT WAS THERE IN 1917, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.
IT IS QUITE A FEW PICTURES. IT'S GOT SOME SERIOUS DETERIORATION.
WE HAVE THOSE PICTURES IN OUR PACKET. YOU DO HAVE THE EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION ON THEIR. I WANTED TO TEAR THE PLYWOOD OFF INSIDE THE GARAGE AND WE STARTED LOOKING AS GO.
WE THINK THAT'S HOLDING IT UP. IT SEEMS TO BE BALLOON FRAMED, WHICH IS KIND OF OLD CONSTRUCTION.
THERE IS SOME NEW WOOD IN THERE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'VE GOT KIND OF TO PATCH THINGS IN.
WHERE THE GARAGE DOOR IS, WHAT USED TO BE A STUD SUPPORT.
I THINK THEY JUST CUT IT OFF AND IT'S ROTTING AND SAGGING.
IT'S ALL KIND OF LEANING TOWARD THE ALLEY. A COUPLE OF ADDITIONS ON THERE THAT WERE NOT PERMITTED.
AND THERE, THE COVERED PORCH AND THE LITTLE DOORWAY YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM.
AND THEY'RE ALL PRETTY ROUGH SHAPE. IT'S REAR SHAPED.
WHAT REALLY DISTURBED ME WHEN I GOT MORE INTO THE WALL WAS THE MAIN SUPPORTS THAT WERE ORIGINAL, PERHAPS WERE ALL CUT OFF ABOUT 2 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND WOOD SCABBED BACK ONTO IT.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE WALLS HAVE BEEN CUT AND PATCHED BACK. SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SALVAGEABLE IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE IF WE START DOING ANYTHING WITH THAT FOUNDATION TO EXPAND IT OR MAKE IT A LITTLE BIGGER, I THINK IS IT'S NOT GOING TO SURVIVE. AND WHAT WHAT THE OWNERS WOULD LIKE IS, IS A LARGER GARAGE WITH AN APARTMENT ABOVE IT LIKE THEY TO HAVE NOW BUT A 2 CAR GARAGE SO THEY CAN GET BOTH THEIR VEHICLES IN THERE.
AND BUT YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THIS AND WE REALLY DID DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND BRITTON CAN COME UP AND GIVE HIS OPINION, IF YOU LIKE, IF THAT'S OKAY. AS A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR THAT YOU KNOW, MY FIRST AS A PRESERVATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARCHITECT HERE IN GALVESTON FOR 20 YEARS, LEARNING THAT, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST INDICATION WAS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T HEAR WE CAN'T TEAR THIS DOWN.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THE MORE WE LOOKED, WELL, THE MORE I KIND OF WAS CHANGING MY MIND.
SO. HEY, EVERYONE, I'M BRITTON, SO ME AND GREG, WE WENT OVER THERE AND CHECKED IT OUT.
I GUESS HE COVERED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. BUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAVE SOMETHING IF IT IT SEEMS SAVE ABLE OR HAS A HISTORIC VALUE.
BUT WITH ALL THE ALTERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST BEEN CUT AND BUTCHERED, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S REALLY UNSAFE TO ADD ON OR EXPAND TO.
AND WE WOULD IF WE START PULLING OFF SOME OF THE PLYWOOD IT, IT COULD COME DOWN.
BUT AT THIS POINT WE THINK THAT IT'S NOT REALLY SMART TO KEEP IF WE WERE TO ADD ON OR TO INCREASE THE SIZE, IT'S GOT MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT GREG DIDN'T COVER ON WE THE FOUNDATION, THEY GOT CONCRETE JUST POURED ONTO THE FLOOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF WEIRD STUFF WITH THE BUILDING, PLUMBING JUST RUNNING EVERYWHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SUPPORT MEMBERS THAT ARE JUST CUT OFF.
SO, YEAH, WITHOUT GETTING TOO FAR INTO THE WOODS, WE JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS PROBABLY A BETTER PLAN TO YOU KNOW, ASK FOR A DEMO AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WITH PROPER REVIEW, BUILD SOMETHING THAT WOULD, I GUESS, IMPROVE THE PROPERTY'S VALUE, BUT KEEP HISTORIC VALUE.
SO COMPLIMENT THE HOUSE. YEAH, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, GREG WILL DO THE DESIGN.
I'M KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MEETING IN THE MIDDLE HERE, BUT I WOULD SAY I DON'T THINK PERSONALLY WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S SAFE FOR, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF ALTERATIONS OR REALLY, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THERE YOU KNOW,
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I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S. I COULD KEEP RAMBLING, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD PULL THE PLUG ON IT AND SO.LIKE I SAY, BRITTON'S WORKED WITH US ON MANY PROJECTS.I GREW UP, YOU KNOW, IN CONSTRUCTION. MY DAD DID HISTORIC RENOVATIONS IN GAINESVILLE, TEXAS, FOR 30 YEARS. BEEN AROUND HISTORIC PROPERTIES, WORK FOR MANY DIFFERENT CITIES.
2 DIFFERENT MUSEUMS I'VE WORKED ON. I'VE BEEN DOING CONSTRUCTION LITERALLY FOR 15 YEARS.
I HAVE MY OWN COMPANY, BUT I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, AROUND THESE HISTORIC PROPERTIES A LOT.
SO A BUNCH OF EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW, SO IS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I COULD PROBABLY ANSWER.
SO JUST. BRITTON, COULD YOU MAKE SURE AND SIGN IN FOR US, PLEASE? ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? GO AHEAD. YEAH. HAS THERE BEEN A SURVEY DONE ON THIS? IS IT ALL INSIDE THE PROPERTY LINES? IT LOOKS LIKE IT KIND OF GOES IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. THAT IS THE CURRENT SURVEY.
OKAY. ON THE PROPERTY LINE, RIGHT IN THE BACK.
AND ON THE SIDE. I THINK IT'S OVER AN A ALLEY.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A REASON WHY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE IF WE BUILD A NEW ONE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE MORE SPACE OFF TAKE CARE OF IT AND MINDFUL OF FIREWALLS ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO.
OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TODAY? AND YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD ME NOT TO BRING THIS UP, BUT I WILL.
SO WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS HOUSE. WE DIDN'T REALIZE IN THE BEGINNING.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, WE GOT INTO IT, AND THEN WE REALIZED IT, BUT THERE'S NO PARKING.
YOU PARK ON THE STREET, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S PRETTY COMMON IN GALVESTON, BUT I WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, WE'LL JUST APPLY FOR A CURB CUT. AND GREG GOES, OH NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO APPLY FOR A CURB CUT.
AND SO THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDED TO TRY TO MOVE THIS THE STRUCTURE IN THE BACK.
HAVE BRITTON LOOK AT IT AND HE'S LIKE OH MY GOSH IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN EVERYWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO EVEN TRY TO MOVE IT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE KIND OF RUN INTO THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE AT.
AND WE'VE GOT 2 CARS, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO WE COULD.
BUT WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GET TRAFFIC OFF THE STREET, MAKE IT SAFER FOR US TO PULL IN AS WELL.
AND SO THIS WAS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR US AT THIS POINT.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME AGAIN TO HEAR OUR CASE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY PLEASE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO. OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? NO. OKAY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 25LC-036 AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
GO AHEAD. I'LL MAKE IT AGAIN. OKAY. I RECOMMEND ON 25.
OKAY, I'LL SECOND IT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. I'LL JUST SAY I'M PRETTY TORN ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES LOOK REALLY COOL.
THE WINDOWS AND THE HISTORIC FEATURES. I WOULD NOT STEP FOOT IN THAT PLACE.
[LAUGHTER] FALL DOWN? NO, I, I GET THAT, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THINGS CAN'T BE FIXED.
I KNOW I'VE DONE A LOT MORE REPAIR ON PARTS OF MY HOUSE WHEN OPENING UP THE WALL AND SEEING DAMAGE.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS A PRETTY COOL. FROM THE PICTURES, THE WINDOWS LOOK GREAT AND THE FLOORS LOOK AMAZING. ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M TORN.
WELL, THAT BEGS THE QUESTION IF YOU DIDN'T DEMOLISH IT COMPLETELY.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SALVAGED? EXCUSE ME. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN IF YOU GUYS ARE GONNA. I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM? YES. OKAY. I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING BACK UP FOR 25LC-036.
[INAUDIBLE]. CHAIRWOMAN? YES, SARAH CHAIRWOMAN.
YOU'D HAVE TO TABLE THE MOTION THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE BEFORE YOU OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING.
BUT I THINK THE COMMISSIONER'S ANSWER IS ACTUALLY ALREADY IN THE STAFF REPORT, CONDITION NUMBER 2 IS THAT THE HISTORIC MATERIAL SHALL BE SALVAGED OR STORED ON SITE AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR REUSE.
[00:35:06]
SO AND WOULD THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT OR YOUR ISSUE.IF WE WANT TO ASK THEM THAT, DO WE NEED TO TABLE DISCUSSION IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? YEAH, I GUESS IF YOU WANT TO TABLE IT OR YEAH, YOU NEED TO SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT, YOU'LL HAVE TO TABLE THE MOTION AND THEN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. SO DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT OKAY. LIKE TO TABLE THAT MOTION. AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN FOR 25LC-036.
SO IF THE APPLICANT WOULD COME UP AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE. GREG LEWIS. LEWIS DESIGN.
SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES. THERE ARE THE WINDOWS.
I MEAN, THE WINDOWS LIKE YOU FIND AT THE WAREHOUSE OR SOMETHING OR THE WAREHOUSES.
SO I THINK THEY COULD BE SAVED. THEY COULD BE CAREFULLY TAKEN OUT AND TAKEN DOWN TO ONE OF THE WAREHOUSES, THE DOORS, OR. THERE'S NOTHING HISTORIC ABOUT THE DOORS.
ONE AT THE BOTTOM IS JUST A FIBERGLASS HOME DEPOT DOOR.
LIKE I SAY, BUT A LOT OF IT'S, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PART OF IT WOULD BE THE BOTTOM OF IT IS ROTTEN.
SO THERE ARE SOME SALVAGEABLE MATERIALS IN THERE, AND WE WOULD SAVE THOSE FOR SURE.
Y'ALL SURE. NO. [LAUGHTER] OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
OKAY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 25LC-036.
AND SINCE THAT MOTION WAS TABLED, IS IT GONE? WE HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE. DONNA, CAN WE GET SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT? NO, NO, NO, JUST REOPEN IT BACK UP. WE JUST TABLED FOR THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU DONNA. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE MOTION.
WELL, ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR STAFF, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D HAVE TO TABLE THAT AGAIN.
OR I CAN ASK STAFF. OKAY. MY QUESTION FOR STAFF IS WITH THE CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS MAP.
IF THIS ONE IS NOT, IT WAS NOTED THAT IT WASN'T NOTED AS BEING CONTRIBUTING.
ARE OTHER ALLEY HOMES NOTED AS BEING CONTRIBUTING? YEAH, THERE ARE A FEW. THEY'RE RARE AND FAR BETWEEN.
I CAN THINK OF ON ALLEY HOUSE IS ACTUALLY ITSELF A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
SO IT DOES HAPPEN, BUT IT'S PRETTY UNUSUAL. ACCORDING TO OUR HISTORIC SITES INVENTORY.
IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR THEM NOT TO BE INDIVIDUALLY, YOU KNOW.
NOTED. OKAY, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. AND SO IT BRINGS UP ANOTHER QUESTION.
IS IT KIND OF STANDARD OR DO YOU EVER SAY PUSH AGAINST IT FOR ANY REASON? OH WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE DEMOLITION IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, SO IT'S ALWAYS A CLOSE CONSIDERATION FOR US.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE REALLY SWAYED BY THE CONDITION.
AND THAT'S TYPICALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF DEMOLITIONS WE'VE HAD.
THE CONDITION HAS BEEN SO FAR GONE THAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE FOR THE MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES.
I'M SORRY. ALYSON. HOW DID YOU VOTE? I'M THINKING.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON TO THE AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS FOREVER AWAY? IT IS. WHEN IS IT? SEPTEMBER 15TH.
THIS WOULD BE LABOR DAYS. NO. WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? ALL GOOD? NO. OKAY. THE TIME IS 4:39. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU DONNA.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.