HARB Minutes
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at
7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. The meeting was held at the Borough Municipal Building, 59 E. High Street. A quorum was present. Those in attendance were: Board members Philip Goble, Colleen Lingle, Jim McCabe, Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson and Aubrey Burkholder, Borough Code Enforcement Officer; Merry Bush, Borough Planning Technician and Historic District Administrator; and Scott Dellett, Borough Planning Director. Also in attendance were James Biesecker, Gettysburg College, and Stuart Christenson, Noelker & Hull Associates, representing 339 Carlisle Street; and Jay Reyher, Quanta Technologies. Representing the media was Jess Haines, Gettysburg Times.
Review of Agenda and Minutes
Gary Shaffer introduced the members and explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting. He noted that the Board serves as an advisory group to Borough Council, which makes final decisions concerning Certificates of Appropriateness. Borough Council will next meet on Monday, January 14, 2013.
There were no changes to the agenda. The Board reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting. Philip Goble moved to accept the minutes as the official record of the November 14, 2012 meeting. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Certificates of Appropriateness
A. Construction of two-story addition. 339 Carlisle Street. Gettysburg College, owner.
Background: The two-and-half-story wood frame "cottage" was completed in October 1869 to serve as the private residence of Colonel Charles H. Buehler and his family. When built, the home was a showpiece of the currently popular Italianate-style. Its most distinctive elements included eave brackets placed upon a wide trim board at the cornice line and windows crowned with hoods fitting over significantly-arched gables. A variation of the window design was placed in the gables, where pointed, triangular hoods were fitted over small attic windows with pointed tops. While triangular (pedimental) hoods were common elements of Italianate design, window sashes with pointed tops were unusual.
Sometime between 1888-1891, Colonel Buehler chose to alter his house to reflect the more current Queen Anne style. The most prominent Queen Anne feature is the apse [a projecting part of a building that is usually semicircular] on the wing extending to the street. This curved wall covers the entire end of the wing and is capped by a conical roof, thus becoming a half-tower that bulges out from the mass of the building. A second apse was added on the south wall of the house below the gable of the wing that has a north-south axis. This apse rises two stories – its top continuing the cornice that runs under the eaves of the apse on the west front and along the top of the south wall.
Both apsidal additions have windows with flat tops, clearly identifying them as Queen Anne rather than Italianate elements. The convex glass of the windows that carry the curved line of apses uninterrupted give this house a remarkable distinctiveness.
In addition to the apses, Buehler added a porch that swept from the main entrance around the northwest corner to a side entrance at the end of the north wall. Though Italianate houses often had porches, they were usually modest in decoration and had roofs supported by square posts. This porch, with its classical (Tuscan) columns and its outer perimeter forming a wide arc at the corner, is clearly a Queen Anne feature.
While the curvature of the apses, the porch and the conical tower roof were added some 20 years later, they harmonize well with the arched windows and basic proportions of the original Italianate structure, forming a sophisticated blend of two styles popular in late 19 century America. (Reference: Pennsylvania Historic Resource Form.)
The Buehler House became a fraternity in 1958. The rear addition was built ca. 1960. The original house has been vacant for the past 10 years. Gettysburg College purchased the property in May 2010. A Certificate of Appropriateness was granted for the demolition of the rear addition on November 13, 2012.
Stuart Christenson said now that the occupants of the building have been determined changes were made to the location of some interior walls necessitating the relocation of some windows. Peggy Gustafson thanked the applicant for providing copies of both the previous plan and elevation drawings along with the new ones.
Mr. Christenson explained other changes to the design including the creation of gable dormers on the addition instead of shed dormers previously shown. The windows on the south elevation have been reduced in number and in size. The side porch on south façade of the original building is being removed and replaced with walls flush with the rest of the building. Siding removed from the rear of the building will be used to side the new walls. A window opening will be relocated from its original porch location to the new wall.
Peggy Gustafson asked if the first floor replacement window would have the same decorative detailing as the other windows on that elevation. Mr. Christenson said that the detailing could be added, possibly from windows on the rear of the building.
Jim McCabe asked about the material for the window awnings on the south elevation of the addition. Mr. Christenson said the awnings would be made of an extruded material called Polygal. The polycarbonate sheets diffuse transmitted light and provide thermal insulation. The awnings will have smooth surfaces with open cells between the top and bottom surfaces providing the insulation. The translucent material retains its color and allows some light to shine through but the heat of the summer sun will be lessened reducing cooling costs.
Peggy Gustafson asked about the awning brackets. The applicant said they would be made of natural anodized aluminum. Ms. Gustafson expressed concern that the location of the corner window at the rear of the building on the south elevation did not work with the rest of building’s design. Mr. Christenson said that the corner light sits at the stairwell and provides natural light. He said that it could be moved several feet away from the corner and still accomplish the same goal.
Ms. Gustafson asked about the front door. She was not sure if the front full glass door with sidelights was appropriate for the historic building. Mr. Christenson said there is a foyer just inside the door and the original entry would have consisted of two doors with glass, allowing light to enter the space. Continuing, he said that the new door would be made of stained wood with full glass. The single door must be wide enough for accessibility.
Peggy Gustafson asked that the lattice work around the front porch have a hidden egress for small animals.
Gary Shaffer asked if the floor plans are set. Jim Biesecker said they were.
Colleen Lingle asked if the window at the rear stairwell could be raised level with the remaining second floor windows. She pointed out that the proposed awnings are not visible from the street, only from the parking lot.
Gary Shaffer said that the applicant presented a refinement of the earlier design.
Findings of Fact: The structure at 339 Carlisle Street is a sensitive building as defined in Chapter 11 of the Borough Code of Ordinances, Historic Districts (Historic District Ordinance). A sensitive building is defined as any building that has been standing for at least 50 years at the time of the application, even though it has been considerably modified, and certain sites of later historic significance or buildings that the Board has determined to be exemplary of later architectural styles.
Construction of a two-story rear addition, along with a new rear entry lobby with elevator constitute a permanent change, making this proposal a critical project, which is defined in the Historic District Ordinance as "A project involving demolition of all or part of any building or change in configuration and rhythm of any building as a whole, or any alteration to a sensitive building." The building is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District.
Based on the application materials submitted by the applicant: The rear two-story addition with entry lobby will be highly visible from the public alley at the rear of the property.
Motion: Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend that Borough Council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a two-story rear addition at 339 Carlisle Street with two stipulations: the replacement window where the side porch of the original building was located shall be installed with the same decorative elements as the other windows on the south elevation; and the window at the rear stairwell of the addition be moved two feet in from the corner of the building. Jim McCabe seconded the motion, which passed 7 to 0.
New Business
Jay Reyher, president of Quanta Technologies, gave a presentation about the high-tech storm windows manufactured by his company located in Lancaster, PA. The QuantaPanel Insulating Glass System consists of slim profile interior or exterior storm windows with a coating on the glass that helps retain heated or cooled air. The system was developed with funding from the U. S. Department of Energy. The system has been marketed to commercial buildings, however, company is now focusing on retail sales to single-family and multifamily residential properties. The exterior system has three tracks like any storm window, while the interior system is installed with two tracks, as the screen is not necessary. The cost is about $150 per window installed. Replacement windows can cost between $750 to $1,000 each.
Revisions to Historic District Ordinance
The Board reviewed the draft revision to the Historic District Ordinance dated November 15, 2012. James McCabe moved to send a recommendation of approval to the Borough Council. Philip Goble seconded the motion, which passed 7 to 0.
Reports
Scott Dellett asked the Board to continue reviewing the Historic District Ordinance during 2013: review definitions and identify other portions that can be updated.
He also asked that definitions be written for the different categories of the Historic Preservation Awards. The Board will need to consider those properties that should be recommended for awards to be presented during the May 13, 2012 Council meeting.
There being no additional business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush
Borough Planning Technician
Historic District Administrator