901 Poland Ave.

Staff Recommendations:

FEMA Survey estimates that 901 Poland Street was constructed between 1885 and 1895. The property first appears on the 1896 Sanborn Map. The applicant is requesting to remove the existing asphalt shingles on the front portion of the roof and the slate shingles on the rear portion of the roof and replace both with a standing seam metal.

The HDLC Guidelines note that not all metal roofing types are appropriate for every architectural style and that replacement materials should not negatively impact a building's historic character. The historic roofing material for this building was slate, and the Guidelines identify slate or asphalt shingles as the most appropriate replacement materials for this building type. While metal roofing may be appropriate in limited situations where it is minimally visible from the public right-of-way, it is generally more appropriate for shallow-pitched roofs, such as those on galleries, porches, cupolas, sheds, garages, and other secondary or accessory structures. This building is located on a corner lot and is highly visible from multiple sides. Installing a metal roof would not be compatible with the character of the building or the surrounding neighborhood. In addition, the proposed work would require the removal of the existing ridge tiles, which are decorative and, in some cases, functional architectural features that define the roofline and contribute to the building's character.

For these reasons, Staff recommends denial of the proposed metal roof.