620-622 Louisa St.

District: Bywater - Full Control

Owner: 620 Louisa Street LLC

HDLC Staff: Michala Daniels

Rating: Contributing

Applicant: Loretta Harmon

Permit #: 26-16892-HDLC

Description: Modifications to previously approved renovation and camelback addition at a Contributing rated, one-story, two-family residential building.

Previous ARC Recommendations:

06/16/26: The ARC agreed that:

The proposed changes to the front façade and parapet are too decorative and differ significantly from the existing historic building. The ARC found no evidence that the building originally had the architectural style or detailing being proposed. As a result, the ARC does not support the proposed changes to the front façade or parapet.
The existing front façade should remain unchanged. The current window, columns, parapet, and architectural detailing should be retained.
The ARC recommended performing limited exploratory demolition on the interior to determine whether there is evidence that the original window openings were larger than they are today.
Please provide historic photographs, documentation, or other evidence showing the original appearance of the building. Any proposed changes to the façade should be supported by documentation demonstrating that they are historically appropriate for the property.
The ARC recommended denial of the proposed increase in the overall size and massing of the building. The previously approved massing shall be maintained, and the proposed balcony and additional rear massing shall be removed from the design.

12/17/24: The ARC agreed that:

The changes made since the previous review are a substantial improvement, including the elimination of the 3rd floor interior program and roof deck, and the overall proposal now reads more visually as a traditional camelback addition.
Due to the overall length of the proposed rear addition, and because the original massing of the historic building is still visible at the exterior, the location of the 2nd floor camelback appears to overwhelm the existing structure and should be shifted back on the building so the original front three rooms are maintained, like the previous iteration. This would preserve more of the original historic building form and fabric and would reduce the visibility and impact of the addition on the existing building and its surrounding historic context.
New window units at the front camelback, left, and right sides of the addition should utilize a 2-over-2 light configuration.
The applicant should investigate alternative setback distances at the left and right sides as the proposed will require the use of fire rated windows.
- - Fire rated windows can be problematic because they do not accurately replicate the dimensions, proportions, profiles, etc. of historic wood windows.

11/19/24: The ARC voted to defer the application for additional review. The ARC also agreed that:

Options 1 and 2 showing the overall building massing stepping up to 3 stories at the rear appears to be too large, foreign, atypical, and acontextual to be appropriate for the existing historic building and the historic context and will be highly visible at the right-side elevation and from several vantage points from Royal and Chartres Streets.
- - For example, the proposal seeks to accommodate 3 stories within a building envelope that is typically intended for only 2 stories. The overall height and floor-to-ceiling heights should be reconsidered and refined relative to the adjacent camelback building on the block at 610-12 Louisa Street.
The applicant should explore alternative massing options that may be more compatible with the existing historic context and that lessen the overall impact of the addition on the original building and adjacent structures.
- - If Zoning allows, the applicant could consider a more traditionally designed and scaled camelback addition at the front and create a new rear accessory, service structure, or connected addition that utilizes the depth of the lot to shift to some of the program and massing further to the rear to reduce its overall height and visibility.
    - - For example, the applicant should consider the existing two-story rear accessory structure at 634 Louisa Street and how it allows for better distribution of the program and utilization of the overall site.
      - Additionally, the operator apartment program on the 3rd floor could easily be shifted on the site and relocated within a new rear structure with units below to maintain the same number of units.
Additional information on the proposed new roof deck, parapet, and how it is incorporated into the design with the other proposed roof forms should be provided for the next meeting.