SUBJECT
title
Public Hearing and consideration of a motion to consider the new construction of a covered stage, which includes a 16’x10’ primarily wooden structure with a galvanize steel roof, at rear of the property on Lot 8, Block 26, Western Division, located at 811 Iturbide St. This property is within the San Agustin De Laredo Historic District.
HD-003-2025
District VIII
body
BACKGROUND
Initiated by: General Iturbide Properties/Arturo Garcia, Owner/Representative
Previous Action:
On May 12, 2016, in a 6 to 0 vote, the Historic District/Landmark Board (HDLB) approved the demolition of the existing carport and the replacement of the existing fence with design scheme of a black wright iron fence. The proposed exterior paint colors were tabled for the following meeting.
On June 9, 2016, in an 8 to 0 vote, the Historic District/Landmark Board tabled the item as requested by applicant.
On January 12, 2017, in an 8 to 0 vote, the Historic District/Landmark Board tabled the item.
On February 9, 2017, in a 6 to 0 vote, the Historic District/Landmark Board approved the proposed scope of work to build a new Canopy/Awning. The HDLB also approved the colors for painting of the existing structures.
Current Proposed Scope of Work: The applicant is requesting to construct a covered stage at the rear of the property with a 16’x10’ wooden structure with a galvanize steel roof.
Building Type: As per the Historic Urban Design Assessment Report (1996):
- This is small, one story, brick with stucco house built in the Border Vernacular [Anglo-American Cottage] tradition. The house is slightly set back from the sidewalk and it is raised about two feet off the ground. It has a wood gabled roof with wide overhangs that is covered in a standing seam metal. The house has an L-shaped floor plan. It has a Victorian detailing on the columns and the windows which are tall double hung types. There is a low chain-link fence that defines the grounds from the sidewalk.
Site: The property is an H-AE (Historic Arts and Entertainment District) zoning district.
Letters sent to the surrounding property owners: 16
For: 0
Against: 1
Granting or Denying an Application:
- As per the Laredo Land Development Code, Section 24.1.2.2(2), the Historic District Landmark Board shall utilize the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings; and the City of Laredo, Texas, Historic Urban Design Guidelines
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards:
1. A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change to its distinctive materials, features, spaces and spatial relationships.
2. The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided.
3. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken.
4. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved.
5. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved.
6. Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence.
7. Chemical or physical treatments, if appropriate, will be undertaken using the gentlest means possible. Treatments that cause damage to historic materials will not be used.
8. Archeological resources will be protected and preserved in place. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures will be undertaken.
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.
10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction will be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
*THE PURPOSE OF THIS APPLICATION REVIEW BEFORE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT/LANDMARK BOARD IS FOR HISTORIC COMPLIANCE ONLY. APPROVAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE APPROVAL OF A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PERMIT THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT.
Planning Staff supports the proposed scope of work for the construction of a 16’x10’ wooden structured stage with a galvanize steel roof for the following reasons:
A. Historic Urban Design Guidelines
1. The addition of the stage on the rear property of the historic structure aligns with the City of Laredo Historic Design Guidelines as it does not alter the or detract from the primary historic façade and avoids disruption of the historic street facing character of the Border Vernacular.
- Location of Addition
The addition of the stage on the rear property of the historic structure aligns with the City of Laredo Historic Design Guidelines as it does not alter the or detract from the primary historic façade and avoids disruption of the historic street facing character of the Border Vernacular.
Reference: Chapter 4 - New Construction & Additions
“Locate additions to the rear of historic structures so that the primary façade and its defining features remain the dominant visual elements.”
- Compatibility of Design & Materials
The guidelines state that new structures or additions should be compatible in scale, materials, and character with the historic property but also differentiated enough to avoid creating a false sense of history. The proposed wood structure with a galvanized metal roof is consistent with the property's existing wood and metal roof elements.
Reference: Chapter 4 - New Construction & Additions
“New additions should be compatible in materials, scale, and character with the historic building while being distinguishable from the original to avoid creating a false sense of history.”
- Preservation of Character-Defining Features
The guidelines emphasize preserving defining elements and ensuring new construction does not overwhelm them. Due to the stage being modest in size (16’x10’) and located at the rear, it preserves the prominence of these character-defining features on the primary façade.
Reference: Chapter 3 - Building Elements & Character-Defining Features
“Character-defining features of historic properties must be preserved, and new construction should not dominate or visually complete these features.”
B. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
1. New additions are acceptable only when they do not destroy historic materials, features, or spatial relationships and are compatible in size, scale, materials, and massing while remaining differentiated from the historic building
Standard 9 - “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property...”
2. Placing additions on the rear or secondary elevations is recommended to ensure that the new work is subordinate to the historic building and does not dominate the historic character
Standard 9 - “Placing an addition on the rear or on another secondary elevation helps to ensure that it will be subordinate to the historic building.”
3. The guidelines emphasize limiting size and scale so that additions remain secondary to the historic structure and do not overwhelm it
Standard 9 - “Constructing a new addition on a secondary or non-character-defining elevation and limiting its size and scale in relationship to the historic building.”
4. Using materials that are compatible but distinguishable from the historic structure (e.g., wood framing with a metal roof) aligns with the Standards’ direction that additions should not replicate the historic fabric but still harmonize with it
Standard 3 - “Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development... will not be undertaken.”
Staff General Comments:
1. Any improvements which are approved by the Historic District Landmark Board shall also comply with all Building Code requirements and other regulations as provided in the Laredo Land Development Code.
2. Approval by the Historic District Landmark Board does not guarantee approval of a building permit or any other permit which may be required.
3. It is recommended that all existed improvements utilize the following resources as a guide:
- The Secretary of the Interiors' Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
- City of Laredo Historic Urban Design Guidelines
- City of Laredo Historic Preservation Plan
4. No other improvements, changes to the building, site or new construction on the property shall be permitted without prior review and approval by staff and/or Historic District Landmark Board, to meet compliance.
5. As per the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, all proposed scope of work should be physically and visually compatible to the original materials and features of the historical structure.
end