SUBJECT
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Public Hearing and consideration of a motion to consider exterior alterations of the front facade, which includes the addition of three (3) roll up security metal doors on the south 53.1 feet of Lot 5, Block 41, Western Division, located at 1110 Lincoln Street. This property is within the Old Mercado Historic District.
HD-002-2025
District VIII
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BACKGROUND
Initiated by: OTRT Inc., Owner; Eduardo Medina, Applicant/Representative
Previous Action:
On September 18, 2008, the previous owner requested the alteration of the façade, which included, the existing repaint, the removal of the two side entrances, a proposed canopy material and color, and the existing wood windows.
On September 18, 2008, in a 5 to 0 vote, the Historic District Landmark Board denied the removal of the two side entrances, and approved the façade alterations that included the following:
1) Flat cable-hung canopy and that the design of the canopy be approved by the
Historic District/Landmark Board.
2) Paint all building trim with trim color, including windows.
3) Remove middle entrance and replaced with window.
On November 3, 2008, the item was presented to the City Council. The purpose of the public hearing was to appeal the denial issued on September 18, 2008 by the Historic District Landmark Board for the denial of the removal of the two side entrances. The item was postponed.
On November 17, 2008, the item was presented to the City Council. The purpose of the public hearing was to appeal the denial issued on September 18, 2008 by the Historic District Landmark Board for the denial of the removal of the two side entrances. The item was postponed.
Citations and Violations:
- The previous owner received the following citations and/or violations:
On July 11, 2008, a verbal warning was given to the contractor stating any exterior alterations (repaint) will need Historic District/Landmark Board (HDLB) approval.
On August 25, 2008, a verbal warning was given to the contractor stating any exterior alterations (removal of the side entrances and wood trim) will need HDLB approval.
On August 27, 2008, a stop work order was issued for no building permit.
- The current owner received the following citations and/or violations:
On December 14, 2021, a stop work order was issued for the removal of the canopies without historic approval. However, since the owner only removed the fabric of the canopies, a citation was not issued.
On May 23, 2025, a warning was issued for the installation of three (3) roll up metal doors without a building permit and without the approval of the Historic District Landmark Board.
Proposed Scope of Work: Alteration of the exterior front façade of the building by adding three (3) roll up security metal doors. The roll up security metal door on the far-left side of the front façade was installed by the previous owner. The current owner installed the two roll up security metal doors located in the middle and the far-right side of the front façade.
Building Type: As per the 1996 Historic Urban Design Assessment Report:
- This is a one story, brick masonry building constructed in the Border/Mexican Vernacular style. The brick has been painted and is left exposed. The building has storefront windows. The original canopy suspended by cables has been replaced by a rounded awning with colorful cloth materials. The cable supports are still present above the band of clerestory windows that has been concealed by the new canopy. The parapet wall has a very simple embattlement profile.
Site: The property is an H-CBD (Historic Central Business District) zoning district.
- Lot of Record: The property was subdivided through Document Number: 98242, Volume: 249, Page: 289.
Letters sent to the surrounding property owners: 24
For: 0
Against: 0
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
Staff does not support the addition of the three (3) roll up security metal doors for the following reasons:
1. As per the Secretary of the Interiors' Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, altering storefronts and their features are not recommended. The storefront defines the overall historic character of the building. Therefore, the addition of the roll up security metal doors will alter and possibly damage the exterior features and finishes of the existing main historic structure.
As per the City of Laredo Historic Urban Designs Guidelines:
1. The storefront should not be altered or obscured as per Chapter 3 Design Guidelines for Historic Properties, Section: Storefronts. By adding the roll up security metal doors, it will cover the original façade concealing any interesting details or features.
2. An addition to an historic building front is inappropriate as per Chapter 3 Design Guidelines for Historic Properties, Section: Additions to Historic Buildings. It is recommended to preserve the integrity of each individual historic structure, by preserving its character defining features and by avoiding alterations that would remove or obscure its historic character. Therefore, the addition of roll up security metal doors, where none have existed, will alter and not preserve the historic character of the building.
3. Staff suggests using possible security features on the interior of the building to avoid alterations to the front façade of the building. This will help preserve its historic character. The City of Laredo Historic Urban Designs Guidelines identifies roll down metal grille screens behind glass storefronts is preferred as per Chapter 2 Design Guidelines for All Projects, Section: Security Devices.
The applicant has expressed concerns regarding the removal of the roll up security metal doors, citing potential vulnerability to window breakage. Please note window replacement is not currently included in the scope of work. However, staff has provided a list of recommended window alternatives for consideration attached to this correspondence.
Please be advised permit requirements may vary depending on the type of window replacement selected.
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.
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