Architectural Review Board

11 March 2024 To: Kate S. Schwartz ksschwartz@fredericksburgva.gov cc: Planning@fredericksburgva.gov The Historic Fredericksburg Foundation has reviewed the upcoming agenda and related COA documents for the March 11, 2024 meeting of the Architectural Review Board and submits the following comments on select projects. Public Hearing: 9.A.iii COA 2401-0023—1314 Sophia Street HFFI appreciates this COA for its sensitively designed, two-story addition to the residence at 1314 Sophia Street. The greater attention to detail in this COA and revised drawings are a welcome improvement and clarify materials as well as connections between the addition and older sections of the house. This additional contains 1,428 square-feet—roughly 60% of the finished area of the existing house—and has a roofline that is slightly higher than that of the existing structure. However, variations in the design and pitch of the addition’s roof, and the manner in which it creatively wraps around the existing dwelling seem to visually diminish the difference in height. Therefore, HFFI generally concurs with staff recommendations for this COA and, again, thanks the applicant for the sensitivity of this design and clarifying details for the proposed addition. 9.B.i COA 2401-0039—103–105 Amelia Street HFFI is very pleased to see this historic duplex getting some much-needed TLC and greatly appreciates the property owner’s willingness to make a substantial investment in its preservation at this time. The deterioration of many exterior wood elements at this building is visibly evident and needs little explanation. HFFI appreciates the complete photographic inventory of existing windows and supports the request to replace the 1-over-1 wood windows at 103-105 Amelia Street. Photographs on file at HFFI taken in 1984 depict the original, 2-over-2, double-hung, wood windows across both halves of this duplex (Figure 1 & 2). Thus, we’d also support the reintroduction of new, 2-over-2, aluminum clad wood windows along the building’s façade. Given the construction date of this resource, it likely had two-over- two windows at the rear or north elevation as well; regardless, the 9-over-9 pattern of faux muntins in the existing vinyl replacement windows at the backside does not necessitate repetition. HFFI believes that 2-over-2 or 1-over-1, aluminum-clad, wood windows would also be compatible. We also sympathize with the applicant’s desire to use synthetic materials to replace wood weatherboard siding at the side and rear elevations of the building; however, this work runs contrary to local district Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 guidelines for existing wood materials. Indeed 4 of the 7 guidelines under section 4.A. prioritize repair and in-kind replacement over the use of synthetics—the strongest of which is item 4.A.7. that plainly states, “Do not use synthetic siding as a replacement for wood siding.” The use of synthetic siding materials like cement fiberboard and Boral is generally reserved to new additions or allowed in limited areas where persistent moisture is unavoidable. The latter circumstance seems like it could apply to the side elevations with limited exposure to sunlight; however, the rear elevation is not as confined by its surroundings and is visible from the sidewalk on Sophia Street. Should the ARB allow for the introduction of a synthetic siding to replace the original wood weatherboard, HFFI believes that it should be limited to the east and west sides of the building to be more in keeping with the guidelines. Again, such careful attention to the architectural details of this resource is commendable. HFFI applauds the applicants’ effort to conserve and replace in-kind the severely deteriorated and damaged historic exterior materials, and greatly looks forward to seeing this building get a new lease on life with this investment. Figure 1: Image taken during a 1984 architectural survey of the resource at 103–105 Amelia Street. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Figure 2: Photographs of neighboring architectural resources at 107 (above) and 101 Amelia (below). Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401