1914 Esplanade Ave.

Description: Renovation of enclosed porches at left side and rear elevations at a Significant rated, two-story, single-family residential building. Appeal of ARC recommendation at rear Bayou Road facing enclosed porch. 

Previous ARC Recommendations:

12/19/23: The ARC voted for conceptual approval with details to be worked out at Staff level. The ARC agreed that:

• The configuration of the enclosed balcony facing Bayou Road should be option 1B with simplified columns and trim. 

• The shutters at this area should be full height and the proposed transoms should be removed. Glazing can be provided behind the shutters. 

• This reconfiguration might alter the shutter style, making them more vertical. 

11/14/23: The ARC voted to defer your application for additional review. The ARC agreed that:

• The proposed full lite doors at the service wing were too modern and that the proposed pane over panel French doors were more appropriate for the building. 

• The two-story balcony at the left-side elevation closest to Esplanade Avenue should attempt to work within the original footprint of the balcony to accomplish the desired program. 

• In lieu of the roof at the Esplanade Avenue balcony, carry the language of the flat paneling at the first floor up to this portion. In addition, replicate the original column bases at the first floor to better integrate the paneling. The slope of the porch floor should be maintained.

• The attempt to create an infilled porch condition with jalousie wall at the Bayou Road facing façade was not appropriate. As such the second floor at this area should include more regularized window openings that are centered on the bays below.  

• The ARC requested that future drawing sets include side-by-side existing and proposed elevations to better understand the alterations. 

Staff Recommendations: 

Constructed in 1882, the Tete Residence at 1914 Esplanade Avenue was the last design and project executed by New Orleans architect, Henry Howard. In November, a proposal to renovate enclosed porches at the left-side and rear elevations proceeded through the ARC review process. As seen in the original plans below, two (2) two-story balconies were constructed at the left-side elevation facing Esplanade Avenue and the rear elevation facing  Bayou Road. At some point in the building's history, these balconies were enclosed and utilized as interior spaces. The proposed renovation work included uncovering existing porch elements including original columns as well as recreating a more historic condition at both locations. At the December ARC meeting, the ARC recommended conceptual approval with a number of conditional alterations. The recommended changes centered on the Bayou Road facing enclosed porch. The ARC agreed that this enclosed porch should have full height shutters with glazing behind. In addition, the ARC agreed that reintroduced porch details such as columns and trim should be simplified in design. The applicant is appealing this recommendation of the ARC.

The Bayou Road facing two-story porch originally operated as circulation between the auxiliary spaces in the attached wing and the main building. This open-air space was unsympathetically enclosed. The proposed changes aim to create a more historic condition at the exterior while utilizing the interior as a bathroom. The original drawings show existing column placement and the overall footprint of the covered outdoor space. The proposed exterior treatment included two (2) options. Option "A" represented higher style columns and trim, essentially replicating the original columns existing at the first floor. Option "B" including simplified columns and trim. The ARC selected this option because it did not attempt to recreate an original condition that no longer existed. The ARC noted that if the intention was to recreate original porch elements, a full reconstruction should be the scope of work. This reconstruction would include making the space an open-air porch rather than an enclosed porch with full height jalousie wall.

Recommendation: Denial of the appeal of the ARC recommendations. 

Context Photos:

Current Drawings:

ARC Reviewed and Conceptually Approved Drawings:

Previous Drawings - 11/14/23:

Original Henry Howard Drawings (1882):

Street View: