Design Review Board

Oakwood/Lincoln Park Infill Housing Overlay District

12-I-23-IH

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Certificate 12-I-23-IH, subject to the following conditions: 1) site plan should be revised to avoid parking in the front yard, with final site plan to be reviewed by staff; 2) house should be moved towards front property line to align with setback pattern of block; 3) final site plan to meet City Engineering standards.


Location
2527 Pershing St. 37917

Owner
Monty Monty Fairchild

Applicant Request
New Primary Structure
1. The house is proposed to be set 29' from the front property line, with the front porch at 20' from the front property line. The average of the blockface is 21.6', with the adjacent house set 18' from the front property line. The house should be moved slightly closer to the street to align with the blockface. The final site plan should feature a walkway to the street.

2. The block to receive new construction is characterized by modified Queen Anne cottages and some infill construction. The proposed one-story, three-bay house is proportional to the dimensions of the lot and the context of the block. The side yard setbacks are somewhat unique for the block but respond to a triangular lot.

3. The Infill Housing guidelines state that "on streets without alleys, garages or parking areas should be at least 20 feet behind the front façade of the infill house with access limited to one lane between the street and the front façade." Parking should be revised to avoid the front yard. Final site plan revisions may be necessary to meet City Engineering standards.

4. The one-story, three-bay façade is similar to the neighborhood context. The foundation height should be confirmed to be compatible with historic houses on the block.

5. The house features an 8' deep front porch which projects outward from the house. The porch is compatible with the design of the house and the surrounding block.

6. Guidelines recommend window and door styles be similar, with similar proportions and ratio of solid to void to, to historic houses on the block. The façade, side, and rear elevations have sufficient windows. Infill Housing reviews typically discourage non-operable shutters that are not sized to fit the windows.

7. The proposed roof pitch, 6/12, is the minimum typically approved in the Infill Housing overlay and meets the design guidelines.

8. While vinyl siding meets the Infill Housing guidelines, the final siding material should feature an overlap instead of flush panel or Dutch lap vinyl siding.

Staff Comments
New primary residence fronting Pershing Street. One-story residence features a front-gable roof (6/12 pitch), an exterior of vinyl siding, and foundation clad in "cement wash stucco." The house (26' wide by 44' deep) will be set 29' from the front property line. The parking is proposed for the front yard, featuring a 16' wide concrete pad.

The façade (north elevation) features a partial-width, front-gable roof porch supported by square 6 by 6 wood posts. The three-bay façade features a centrally-located front door flanked by paired one-over-one windows. The left elevation features one one-over-one window, and the right elevation features two smaller fixed windows. A secondary access is located on the right side elevation.

Case History