Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Request by Ethan Sanford for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Demolition of the Residential Building Located at 1505 Howell Street
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in Downtown McKinney
MEETING DATE: August 1, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Cassie Bumgarner, Historic Preservation Planner II
Jennifer Arnold, AICP, Director of Planning
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION:
• Staff recommends approval of the demolition request for the residential building at 1505 Howell Street.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The applicant requests approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for demolition of the wood frame residential building located at 1505 Howell Street.
• William M. Graham completed an inspection report from Integrity Home Inspections, completed on July 10, 2024. Graham found several deficiencies in the structural integrity of the home, including extensive damage to the foundation, walls, and roofing. He noted that there is insect damage, wood rot, and that several areas feel unstable.
• The applicant notes the home has been vacant for 25+ years, which spurred on the conditions shown in the photographs. When initially bought, the lack of yard and property maintenance prohibited the applicant from being able to fully assess the condition of the home.
• Staff has been unable to find significant history of the residence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Zoning code states that the applicant shall not construct, reconstruct, alter, change, restore, expand, or demolish any exterior architectural feature of a building or structure that is visible from a public right-of-way located in the H historic preservation overlay district without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness.
• The criteria for approval mandates that the following standards, guidelines, and criteria be used in a balanced evaluation of the project:
• Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings to assist in the consideration of all applications.
• Checklist of design elements to be reviewed and evaluated.
• Consideration of the preservation priority rating assigned to the property in question.
o The 2023 Historic Resource Survey found the home at 1505 Howell Street to be a non-contributing property. The home was built circa 1945.
o A non-contributing property: Parcels that typically do not contain resources of historic age. This includes modern infill, vacant (undeveloped) parcels, and parking lots. These parcels do not contribute to potential historic districts.