903 Spain St.

Description: Request to install new dormer at roof of existing Contributing rated, two-story, two-family residential building.

HDLC Guidelines: 

Section 05, Page 11 of the Guidelines for Roofing state that Dormers typically protrude from the roof surface with a window providing light and additional headroom under roof eaves. Dormers can have various roof shapes but are typically gables. Property owners are encouraged to retain existing historic dormers and reconstruct dormers on buildings where there is clear evidence that they existed. Evidence can be historic photographs indicating a dormer or visible within attic roof framing. New dormers at historic buildings are not always appropriate. Certain building types and architectural styles did not traditionally include dormer windows. For those buildings that historically included dormers, they were often located on certain roof slopes; set back a certain distance from the roof eave; centered or evenly spaced relative to architectural features below; had a standard form, most often a gable roof form; with window types and styles similar to the remainder of the building; and trim complementing the building’s architectural style. When considering a new dormer, particularly at historic buildings, property owners are encouraged to consider comparable buildings of the same style and period including the location, form, spacing, dimensions, proportions, style and detailing. For example, dormers are not typically appropriate on side elevation roof slopes. Similarly, oversized dormers to accommodate egress windows or to capture additional interior square footage are often inappropriate. Cheek wall cladding materials vary with building materials, and on wood frame buildings, dormer cheek walls can be slate, wood or cementitious clapboard siding.

Previous ARC Recommendations: 

04/18/23: The ARC voted to recommend conceptual approval with the final details to be worked out at the Staff level. The ARC also agreed that:

• The pitch of the dormer roof appears too flat and should be increased to around 3:12 with the location of the ridge remaining and the difference made up by reducing the windowsill height.

• The mullion between the two windows should be reduced in width.

• The dormer cheek walls should be clad in wood or smooth finish Hardie weatherboards rather than asphalt shingles or an alternative material such as metal.

Context Photos:

Current Drawings:

Street View:

HDLC Guidelines: 

05: 11 – Guidelines for Roofing