Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by David Kelly for Approval of a Historic Marker for the Property Located at 801 N Church Street
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in Downtown McKinney
MEETING DATE: October 3, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Cassie Bumgarner, Historic Preservation Planner II
Jennifer Arnold, AICP, Director of Planning
RECOMMENDED HPAB ACTION:
• Staff recommends approval of this Historic Marker application.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The applicant requests approval of a Historic Marker under the HNIZ Program for the property at 801 N Church Street.
• To be eligible for a historic marker under the HNIZ program, residential properties must meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the program, provide specific information with the historic marker application.
• Specifically, the applicant must provide the following with an application for a historic marker:
o A written documented history.
o Verification that the building is a minimum of 50 years of age.
o Verification that the residential property is located within the HNIZ boundary.
o Photo documentation of all four elevations using black and white or color photographs and copies of any available historic photographs.
o Legal description of the property with a location map.
o A site plan of the property shall be provided, if available.
o Additional information as deemed necessary by the Director of Planning or their designee.
• Staff has reviewed the request and has found that it meets the minimum eligibility requirements of the HINZ program for a historic marker.
• The home is listed as a medium priority building in the 2023 Historic Resources Survey. Medium priority buildings contribute significantly to local history or broader historic patterns, but alterations have diminished the resource’s integrity. These buildings can be a significant example of architecture or an outstanding example of a common local building form or architectural style.
Construction and alterations to the property:
• The Rev. C. W. Dennis Parsonage was constructed in 1917 as a two-story, wood-frame residential building on pier-and-beam foundation.
• Addition of a small rear porch appears on 1927 Sanborn; later enclosed (undated).
• Sometime before 1980, second story sleeping porch was enclosed.
• Current owners, Barbara and David Kelly, have done some additional work to both interior and exterior spaces. Those rehabilitation projects are included in the alterations addendum in the historic marker application. The following exterior changes were done in the last few years that impact the exterior integrity of the home:
o Removed metal siding to expose original wood siding on 3 sides of home; added wood siding on rear to match other sides
o Replaced front door
o Bricked over historic chimney that was sunken, rebuilt firebox, and installed a steel liner.
History of the home and people associated with the property:
• Rev. Charles Whitfield Dennis was a Presiding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South from 1914 to 1918, during which time he had the parsonage at 801 N Church built.
• Rev. Dennis hired William J. Higgins to construct the parsonage; the home was completed in July 1917. Rev. Dennis lead a campaign to raise funds for the home.
• Rev. Dennis lived in the home for a short time as his term as the Presiding Elder came to an end shortly after construction. Presiding Elders lived in the parsonage until 1948, at which point the Church began renting out the home. The home remained in the ownership of the Methodist Episcopal Church Presiding Elders until 1953 when it went back into private ownership.
• In 1953, the Church sold the property to an auto salesman, Thomas L. Hayes, who continued renting the home. The home exchanged hands numerous times until 1975 when George and Elsie Kadera purchased the home.
• The Kaderas lived in the home from 1975 until 2017, making them the home’s longest continual owners.
• The current owners, Barbar and David Kelly, bought the home in 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone (HNIZ) Program was established in 2008 for the purpose of preserving the city’s unique and historic neighborhoods while encouraging property owners to maintain and/or rehabilitate residential properties and structures.
• The HNIZ Program includes a three-tiered incentive structure whereby residential properties that meet specified criteria are eligible to receive ad valorem tax exemptions on city taxes for a designated period.
• To be eligible for an HNIZ Program incentive, the following minimum general requirements apply:
o The property shall be located within the HNIZ Program area.
o The property shall be owner-occupied and shall maintain a homestead exemption from the Collin Central Appraisal District for the life of the incentive period.
o Verified, eligible improvements shall have received all necessary permits and approvals, including COAs.
o The structure, accessory structures, grounds, property elements and building elements with their materials and finishes have been maintained in good repair and in operable condition.
o There are no pending code violations.
o The total ad valorem taxes owed to the city must be current and paid on time.
• The historic marker is one of the requirements for the Marker Level incentive of the HNIZ program.
• Under Ordinance #2022-03-036, if the HPAB approves the Marker, the applicant will be responsible for purchasing and displaying the Historic Marker.