429 Julia St

District:  Warehouse District - Full Control

Owner: 755 Tchoupitoulas LLC

HDLC Staff: Dennis Murphy

Rating:  Contributing

Applicant: Nicholas Musso

Permit #: 21-11750-HDLC

HDLC Guidelines: 

Section 7, Pages 1, 11-12 of the Guidelines for Masonry and Stucco state that exterior masonry includes stone, brick and stucco. Historically, a building’s exterior masonry surface serves both visual and functional purposes. Visually it is an important design feature that establishes the rhythm and scale of a building. Historic exterior masonry:

• Acts as an important design feature, helping to define a building’s architectural style

• Establishes a building’s scale, mass and proportion

• Adds pattern and casts shadows on wall surfaces

If the exterior of the masonry surface has been compromised through previous sandblasting, moisture infiltration or the use of harsh chemicals, appropriate painting can provide a degree of protection; however, applying stucco is typically the more appropriate option. Proper application of a water repellent paint can prevent water from penetrating while allowing water vapor to escape. Waterproof coatings or inappropriate paint can trap moisture within a masonry wall.

Staff Recommendations: 

The applicant is requesting approval to apply a coating of paint to the new bricks to be installed at this previously approved exterior wall reconstruction. However, at the June 15, 2021 meeting where this application was reviewed and recommended for approval, the ARC specifically noted that this area of new brick wall should not be painted to further differentiate it from the existing portion of painted brick remaining at the building to the right. The applicant has subsequently submitted a brick sample which appears to meet the other ARC recommendations in terms of being a common brick size with standard mortar joints and within the same color family. The HDLC Guidelines note that painting of previously unpainted historic masonry is not permitted because paint can damage the masonry, alter the visual characteristics of the building and obscure the craftsmanship of the masonry including colors, texture and joint patterns, and because paint on masonry is not easily removed. The specific masonry requested for painting is new and non-historic brick, however, the building to which it is being applied is a Contributing rated structure and was noted by the ARC to remain unpainted in relation to the existing building to the right. Based on this, Staff recommends the Commission vote to deny the request to appeal the ARC denial for painted masonry. Staff also recommends the applicant consider returning to the ARC for re-review of the proposed brick painting to see if this is a request the Committee may be comfortable granting with additional/current information from the applicant.

• Staff Recommendation: Denial