2008, film making in the Crescent Area Historic District
For a dozen years now, the Historic Preservation Commission has upheld rules for the city's historic districts, yet on Tuesday three of five cases had to do with "after-the-fact" approvals for changes, meaning the owners did not know or care about historic preservation requirements.
One owner, who did not wish to be quoted by name on the blog, said she bought a property in a short sale and obtained permits for needed repairs. She only learned it was in a historic district when the work was stopped and has since spent five months trying to meet requirements for a "Certificate of Appropriateness" from the HPC. Commissioners Tuesday advised her that the work done so far did not meet Historic Preservation Design Guidelines.
Preservationist Gail Hunton, who advises the HPC, told the applicant, "Your contractor did not serve you well. Don't pay him."
Problems included porch floorboards that were "cupping," causing a tripping hazard, and spindles improperly nailed onto railings. The applicant was advised to go back to the construction official and zoning officer before returning to the HPC, possibly adding another two months to the process.
A case of after-the-fact approval of a fence in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District was resolved because the owner made the changes required by the HPC. No one showed up nor was proper notice given for the third case, so it was carried to the September meeting.
The Historic Preservation ordinance and the Design Guidelines are posted on the city web site, but as the first applicant said outside the meeting, people who are new to the area may not have any idea that they are purchasing homes in a historic district. The commission is working on having the designation added to real estate listings and is in the process of having the design guidelines printed in Spanish. While hundreds, if not thousands of people have come to Plainfield for historic house tours like the one coming up Sept. 14 in the Netherwood Heights Historic District, it seems that any one of the more than 700 homes in the six residential districts can change hands without the buyer realizing the historic significance.
While the city has some specialists in restoring historic properties, it also appears that contractors need to know the guidelines. For example, to meet the requirement of replacing like with like, the porch floor in the first case should have had tongue and groove construction, not just boards side by side.
To learn more, visit the Historic Preservation Commission link on the city web site.
--Bernice
Ignorance of law is no excuse.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, but it should be the duty of the authorities to make easily available in understandable language for the uninformed the gist of applicable laws.
Deletewe put a man on the moon with less technology than exists in a smart phone today.... It's beyond ridiculous that the city cannot or refuses to make that part of the information LEGALLY required to be contained in all the information regarding any home that exists in the city historic districts..
ReplyDeleteSeriously.. .for all the stupid crap that goes on everyday in the world... Plainfield or not.. put it into perspective with the "got to the moon with less technology than is in a smart phone today" ... makes a lot of stuff seem foolish when people say how hard or difficult it is..
Bernice, was there an update on 340 Franklin Place? I saw it was on the agenda for discussion and wanted to attend but forgot about it. That street had 2 once grand homes that have been an eyesore for decades, two young men bought the catherine webster home a few years ago and its nice to see its progressing slowly. Are we lucky enough to have new owners to turn this eyesore around?
ReplyDeleteI was out in the rotunda getting a comment from the pastor of St. Mary's when 350 Franklin came up - did not hear any update.
DeleteRegarding the inappropiate porch floorboards, one would need super-human vision to see that discrepancy from the street; to obligate a do-over is what is really inappropriate. Murders, financial mismanagement (see 2013 audit report) and real estate values in the toilet and this is what is deemed important? Floorboards? Here is someone who is just trying to improve their private home. They should be applauded but instead they are being dealt setback after setback. Rather than working to get historic designation into real estate listings, the Historic Preservation Commission should simply be thanked and adjourned.
ReplyDelete