Title
Demolition of an auxiliary structure (B)
Petition HP-21-27. Kary Huffman, Florida House Corporation of Alpha Phi, agent for Michelle Ardern, Phi Sigma, Inc., owner. Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish an accessory garage. Located at 517 SW 10th Street. This building is a contributing structure to the University Heights Historic District - South. Related to HP-21-25, HP-21-26, & HP-21-28.
Project Description
The existing principal structure is a two-story, Tudor Revival Period house, that was a residence turned sorority and features asymmetric, picturesque massing, cross gables with false half timbering and the small-paned, multi-lighted window type characteristic of the revived 13th -14th century English country house. The exterior fabric includes the half timbering, brick and stucco, with a lifetime Dutch lap asbestos roof surface. There is a Florida Master Site File for the house where it was determined to be a fine university example of a Tudor Revival Period house. The contributing accessory structure is not described in the Florida Master Site file for the property. The house was built in 1960 according to the Alachua County Property Appraisers office. However, both structures are shown on the 1928 Sanborn Map, and the detached accessory structure is indicated as a garage. The site file indicates that the house is located in the 1912 University Heights subdivision but was likely not built until the early 1920s. Brick is the primary building material on the garage structure with two wooden garage doors and a metal roof.
This project involves the demolition of the accessory structure. The approximately 441 square foot building is a contributing structure to the University Heights Historic District - South and currently serves as a garage. The proposal is to demolish the structure to allow space for a new residential building. As part of this request, if this petition is approved, the requirement for the 90-day demolition delay for the structure will be waived.
The applicants proposing demolition of the accessory structure indicate that there are no unique qualities specific to the structure other than its connection to the existing principal structure at 517 SW 10th Street. The building is in poor condition and needs to be refurbished. However, the building does not fit within the fabric of the overall project, which includes the relocation of the principal structures at 505 and 517 SW 10th Street, the construction of a sorority house, and associated parking. The relocation of the structure has been considered but the function of the building as a garage and the condition of the building does not make it feasible to move.
Recommendation
Staff to the Historic Preservation Board - Approve Petition HP-21-27 with the condition that the owner/developer recycles salvageable material from the structure, to the extent feasible, for re-use elsewhere on the development site.