937-39 Julia St

Description: Retention of 3 condenser units installed in deviation of Certificate of Appropriateness. 

Case History:

9/13/16: HDLC issues Certificate of Appropriateness for the renovation of 937-939 Julia.

9/14/16: Safety & Permits issues the building permit.

3/22/19: Safety & Permits issues the mechanical permit to install the HVAC.

3/28/19: Safety & Permits completes their inspection of the HVAC.

7/30/21: Safety & Permits issues the Certificate of Completion for the HVAC.

3/11/22: HDLC does a final inspection for the buildings at 929-941 Julia and finds HVAC installed in deviation of CofA at 937-939 Julia.

HDLC Guidelines:

Staff Recommendations:

On August 13, 2016 the HDLC issued a Certificate of Appropriateness for the renovation of 937-39 Julia St in conjunction with a larger project to renovate the buildings at 929-941 Julia St.  However, the CofA did not include HVAC for 937-39 Julia St. On March 22, 2019, Safety & Permits issued the mechanical permit to install the HVAC and subsequently finaled the permit on June 30, 2021; it should be noted that there were several other mechanical permits in various states of approval for this address that were closed when the contractor left the project. An HDLC final inspection for the overall renovation at 929-941 Julia St buildings, revealed that the HVAC had been installed without HDLC approval at 937-39 Julia St. The HDLC found that no other properties in the scope of work were in violation.

Per the HDLC Guidelines, roof mounted equipment should not be visually obtrusive from the public right-of-way, should be 10' back from the front wall, and 12" from the ridge. While the HVAC is not minimally visible from the public right-of-way, it is 10' back from the front wall and on a service wing rather than the main roof. There are also not many other locations it could have been installed, as the main roof is quite visible and the courtyard does not provide sufficient space. Further, the applicant did receive a mechanical permit that was finaled with the HVAC in its current location from Safety & Permits. Due to this, and the lack of a more desirable location for the HVAC, Staff recommends that the retention be granted.

Context Photos:

Approved Drawings 9/13/16:

Applicant Submitted Materials:

Supporting Documents:

Street View: