Architectural Review Board

10 June 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 June 10, 2024, meeting of the Architectural Review Board and submits the following comments on select projects. Consent Agenda: 9.B. COA2405-0059 – 1000 Charles Street– Sign Installation Two things to note on this COA. The first is that staff’s usual condition for anchoring or mounting sign components through mortar joints rather than historic bricks is not included in the text of this application, while the submitted documentation specifically depicts anchors designed to penetrate masonry. 9.C. COA2405-0060 – 216-218 William Street– Sign & Fence Installation The two proposed fence enclosures extend roughly 5 and 11 feet into what is currently public space within Market Square, and stand 3 and 6 feet tall, respectively. The drawings included in the application do not provide a clear depiction of scale and only show a perspective view of one of the proposed fences. Furthermore, the contemporary design—using horizontal wood planks and metal posts—does not satisfy all six of the fence guidelines. Two such guidelines call for fence walls and gates to be “compatible with the historic structure in design, materials, and location” and also “relate to those found in the neighborhood.” HFFI believes that the proposed fences are not compatible with the historic district guidelines and may well be taking or encroaching upon public property. HFFI obtained copies of recent deeds for the 216 and 218 properties, obtaining lot measurements and legal descriptions, but also found a 2004 plat created for the City of Fredericksburg that formally expanded the 218 parcel so as to include the footprint an early- twentieth-century rear addition to the nineteenth-century building thereon and clearly define the property boundaries between historic Market Square and neighboring lots on William Street (Figure 1). Copies of these legal documents were shared with Staff prior to tonight’s meeting and provide sufficient evidence to stop the proposed physical intrusions onto public property. Public Hearing: 10.A.i. COA2404-0046 – 1313 Princess Anne Street HFFI understands that this circa-1940, Minimal Traditional-styled dwelling is in need of significant rehabilitation and appreciates the applicant’s efforts to minimize the impacts of these changes to the 1 façade while preserving as much of its original, character-defining features as possible. Conservation of the historic built environment is important to maintaining our City’s authenticity as well as its sustainability. We very much look forward to learning more about the proposed alterations at the next meeting. 10.A.ii. COA2405-0056 – 319 Prince Edward Street The proposed project at the commodious corner lot that is 319 Prince Edward remains relatively fresh in many minds as it was previously reviewed at 5 ARB meetings—the August regular meeting and August supplemental, September regular meeting, October regular meeting and, lastly, the regular November meeting). Surely, the applicant is thrilled to be back for Round 6. It is relatively rare for HFFI to speak in favor of new construction projects in the district without at least a few caveats and conditions, but this application and proposed design showed unparallelled contextual awareness from the outset. Despite what the district guidelines’ illustrations depict as appropriate for new additions, very few COAs propose one- or two-room additions nowadays. The threshold for compatible scale, massing, and building height has changed in the last decade or so. Recently, the apex of the historic building’s roofline has become a lynch pin in determining an addition’s subservience. Yet a low, sprawling addition can also overwhelm a historic resource. The universal application of a singular standard runs somewhat counter to the ARB’s case-by-case approach and the general flexibility of “guidelines;” but exceptions can be found for every rule. One example of a slightly-taller addition approved since November 2023 was at another corner property where the new roof was depicted 10 inches higher than the existing resource. Other additions in the last year have matched the existing ridge height but removed original roof features like dormers; meanwhile, roof heights for new construction routinely rise above their historic neighbors. The proposed addition at 319 Prince Edward builds upon the historic architectural patterns of its neighborhood and reflects a carefully crafted response to both its lot and immediate surroundings. Reading simultaneously as sensitive new addition and compatible infill, another 16 inches in height for a shed or flat roof will not destroy what good contextual design has gifted to this dilapidated historic resource. 10.A.iv. COA2405-0058 – 240 Charles Street HFFI is pleased to see this historic and unique vernacular duplex being rehabilitated. We agree with staff’s recommendations to continue the application and hope a window inventory with accompanying photographs will be provided for the next meeting. Further information on doors throughout the building is needed to support the applicant’s case for wholesale replacement, since the guidelines expressly state that “Historic doors must be retained and preserved wherever possible.” 11. General Public Comment As Preservation Month came to a close last week, HFFI compiled a list of Preservation goals for the City in the next year, which went out to City Council members. But I wanted to briefly mention them tonight since the ARB ordinance empowers this commission to assist in the identification, documentation, and preservation planning efforts in the community. And HFFI hopes that everyone in leadership positions will help us work to accomplish some of these long-standing goals for preserving our community. We’d also like to thank the more than 350 people who have signed our petition to local leaders calling upon them to fulfill some of their own priority task items that have languished for several years if not longer. I will highlight a few of these goals; the full list is posted on HFFI’s website. 2 1. Establish a Preservation Advisory Committee—The City’s Preservation Plan, adopted in 2021, calls for creating two committees with a preservation focus. The first is a steering committee to implement an economic strategy that invests in the preservation of existing building stock. The second is a standing advisory committee to refresh the discourse about preservation and build support for preservation culture across the city. During its work session on September 12, 2023, Preservation Planning staff proposed that Council create a Preservation Advisory Committee to provide resources, expertise, and focus to carry out several City preservation goals. HFFI will work with the City to provide this needed support and network with professional preservationists in the community to accomplish the goals of this committee. 2. Complete a Historic Preservation Economic Impact Study—It is important that the community and its leaders are aware of the significant and far-reaching economic impacts generated by the preservation of the City’s historic character and diverse built environment as well as how those impacts benefit city residents directly and indirectly. Last summer, the National Park Service released an economic impact study of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park that found its visitors spent $49.9 million in surrounding communities in 2022 alone. A historic preservation economic impact study has been a top goal for City Council and staff since 2021. It is listed in the Preservation Plan (Chapter 8 of the Comprehensive Plan), has appeared on Council’s 3-year Priority Task List, and was recommended as recently as June 2023 in the expert “Preservation Recommendations” study commissioned to support the City’s Preservation program. Funding for this study was presented by City staff and requested by the Planning Commission last fall but failed to make the FY2025 budget. This kind of study is long overdue and sorely needed. HFFI will work with City staff, the EDA, EDT, Main Street, Chamber of Commerce, and any other organizations to make this longstanding, important goal come to fruition. 3. Implement Incentives for Preservation—Daniel Becker’s expert Recommendations report, completed in June 2023, outlined several potential incentives to fulfill one of City Council’s priority goals for Historic Preservation. The EDA and Council were briefed on this study last summer. Of particular focus in that report was increasing the local historic rehabilitation “tax credit” that has been around for roughly 10 years and used just 17 times, so raising the amount of qualifying rehabilitation expenditures as state law permits does not seem likely to drain much from our coffers. We will work with the city to implement those recommendations. 3 Figure 1: Detail of “Plat of Resubdivision, City of Fredericksburg, Virginia Showing a Property Line Adjustment Between the Properties of Market Square and 218 William Street” (City of Fredericksburg Plat Book 13, page 17, September 2004). 4