2007 Lapeyrouse St.

District: Treme - Partial Control

Owner: Patricia Wells

Rating: Contributing (but altered)

Applicant: Rankins Maurice

HDLC Guidelines:

Section 12, Pages 23-24 of the Guidelines for New Construction, Additions and Demolition states that the demolition of all or portions of historic resources within a local Historic District or Landmark site are considered drastic actions, since they alter the character of the area. Once historic resources or buildings that contribute to the heritage of the community are destroyed, it is generally impossible to reproduce their design, texture, materials, details and their special character and interest in the neighborhood. When reviewing demolition applications at properties located within a Historic District or at a Landmark site, the HDLC uses the following criteria in its evaluations:

• The historic or architectural significance of the building or structure as designated by its “rating”: Contributing (but altered)

• The importance of the building or structure to the tout ensemble of the area: Staff Recommendations: Based on Sanborn map research, the existing stick framed building was possibly constructed as early as 1893, within the period of significance for the local historic district. However, the building has been highly altered over the years including the removal of the front porch (unknown) and the enclosure of the open side hall at the right side of the building some time be 1908. Due to the deteriorated state of the existing weatherboards and some unknowns in the wall cavities, the Staff has no objection to the necessary reframing in areas required due to rott and decay.

• Staff Recommendation: No Objection with the proviso that no unnecessary reframing is to occur. and appears to be a commercial property with attached open-air automobile covering. It appears this open-air automobile covering was replaced with new roof and enclosing walls sometime after 1951 which is outside the period of significance. Further research of newspaper archives show advertisements for a small ground floor commercial space in 1927.

• The alternatives to demolition that have been explored by the applicant: None on record.

• The special character and aesthetic interest that the building or structure adds to the local Historic District: The one-story shotgun has a heavily altered primary facade and its overall footprint, massing and roof form were altered when the open-air auto was converted to interior conditioned space and the roof was substantially replaced to encompass the new addition. The wood windows, shutters, weatherboard clad interior demising wall, and interior bead board all remain housed in the building. The wall framing at the historic store portion of the building is wood-framing set on a masonry chain wall with portions of wood inappropriately encapsulated in masonry.

• The difficulty or impossibility of reproducing such a building or structure because of its design, texture, material or detail: While reproduction might not be cost-prohibitive there is little evidence of an architecturally significant elements on the primary façade. The slab on grade and chain wall foundation and dirt floor is uncharacteristic for residential building.

• The condition of the building or structure: HDLC Inspector Alex Nassar performed an exterior and interior visual inspection on January 23, 2023 and found the building to be in poor condition but not in imminent danger of collapse. The building's exterior is covered in fiber cement and wood weather boards that appear to be in good to fair condition. The windows throughout appeared to be intact and/or properly boarded/shuttered. The roof where visible seems to be in good functional condition. However, the rear portion of the building is covered in vegetation. The right-side wall is detached from the masonry foundation at the corner. Upon inspection of the building's interior, the inspector found the building to be dry with no damp or moldy odor. However, the building is not in habitable condition. The building has a significant lean to one side and not built in a conventional manner.

Staff Recommendations:

The one-story building has relevant massing, scale, siting and roof form for the surrounding historic district. Although the original building is still intact within the current structure and has retained some of its original characteristic details, it has been highly altered and is in poor condition with signs of prolonged neglect and vacancy. The building's structural deficiencies and unconventional foundation would make restructuring and redevelopment of the building to bring it into commerce, nearly impossible. Based on this and the altered nature of the current encapsulated building after the period of significance there is little historic material. Staff has no objection to the request for demolition to grade. However, if approval is granted Staff requests a proviso that all historic materials be salvaged for donation or reuse.

Staff Recommendation:

• No objection of the demolition to grade with historic interior materials to be salvaged as much as possible.