709 Touro St

Description: Retention of installation of inappropriate metal handrails, gates, and shutter dogs at a Contributing rated two-story, single-family residential building without a Certificate of Appropriateness.

HDLC Guidelines:

Section 09, Pages 8-9 and 11 of the Guidelines for Porches, Galleries and Balconies state that ORNAMENTAL METALS, including wrought iron and cast iron, are used for both structural and ornamental purposes. Wrought iron, is hand made by heating, beating and stretching iron into decorative hardware and ironwork, and was common into the early 19th century. Cast iron, formed by casting iron in foundry molds, was popularized in the mid 19th century. Casting allowed the fabrication of more elaborate and larger elements such as columns, and produced standardized decorative components like scrollwork and filigree. Components could be ordered from a catalogue, and for larger and more complex installations, individual pieces were often fastened together. The use of wrought or cast iron details including handrails, cornice components, columns, brackets, balusters, etc. is typically associated with specific architectural styles and periods. It was also common for older buildings to be retrofitted with ornamental cast iron at a later date. The HDLC does not approve the addition of ornamental wrought or cast iron where it is not documented for the particular style or type of building.

Section 10, Pages 2 and 4-5 of the Guidelines for Site Elements state that PEDESTRIAN GATES, traditionally along a walkway, are generally 3’-0” to 3’-6” wide. Gates for residential vehicular access are often about 10’-0” wide with a 12’-0” curb cut. When installed along a fence, gates tend to be of a similar material as the fencing. Gates providing the public entrance to the property, and their flanking gate posts, are often more elaborate than adjacent fencing. Gates to rear or side yards are often simpler than those at front yards. When installed at a masonry wall or pier, gates can be either wood or metal. In the Faubourg Marigny local historic district, an entrance gate of vertical wood boards was often located between the houses on a street to provide access to side and rear yards. The HDLC Guidelines require that new fences, walls and gates must be historically consistent in style with the type and style of the main building and requires the use of simple detailing at metal fences with plain, spiked pickets. All decorative elements are subject to HDLC review prior to installation.

Section 08, Pages 14-15 of the Guidelines for Windows and Doors state that the type and detailing of SHUTTERS should be appropriate for the age, type and style of the building on which it is hung. The HDLC Guidelines also require that shutters utilize historically appropriate hardware in their installation.

Staff Recommendations:

DECORATIVE METAL HANDRAILS

The Guidelines note the use of wrought or cast iron details, including handrails, are typically associated with specific architectural styles and periods. The Guidelines require new handrails to be detailed in simple, plain, square metal without additional decorative infill and specifically prohibits the installation of new ornamental wrought or cast iron where it is not documented for the particular style or type of building. This Greek Revival style residential building would not historically have had highly decorative ornamental ironwork at the front entry stoop. Staff can approve the installation of new handrails if they are detailed appropriately and compatible with the period and style of the building and conform with the HDLC Guidelines. Because the highly decorative handrails installed do not meet the Guidelines and were installed without approval, Staff recommends denial of the request to retain them and recommends they be replaced with simple, plain metal handrails.

• Staff Recommendation: Denial

DECORATIVE METAL GATES

The Guidelines note that in the Faubourg Marigny, an entrance gate of vertical wood boards was often located between the houses on a street to provide access to the side and rear yards and that gates to these areas were often simpler than those located in front yards. The Guidelines also require new gates to be historically consistent in style with the type and style of the main building they serve and recommend simple detailing of all metal fences with plain, spiked pickets. The installation of additional decorative elements or other ornamental ironwork is subject to HDLC review prior to installation and is not appropriate where ornamental ironwork is not documented for the particular style or type of building. Staff can approve the installation of new plain metal picket fencing or capped wood vertical board fencing, but the highly decorative gates installed at this property do not match the building's Greek Revival style or age. Because the highly decorative gates installed do not meet the Guidelines and were installed without approval, Staff recommends denial of the request to retain them and recommends replacing them with simple, plain metal gates (or) capped wood vertical board gates.

• Staff Recommendation: Denial

SHUTTER DOGS

The Guidelines require that the type and detailing of a shutter must be appropriate for the age, type and style of the building on which it is hung and that shutters must utilize historically appropriate shutter hardware. The Guidelines note that paneled or any variation of louvered shutter is appropriate for a Greek Revival style building from the mid 19th century. Paneled shutters, as installed on this building, can be hung on either strap hinges or “Clark’s Tip” and “Acme, Lull & Porter” type hinges. Both the "Clark's Tip" and "Acme, Lull & Porter" type hinges are counterbalanced and have the ability to hold shutters open and closed, eliminating the need for shutter dogs. Because the shutter dogs installed are unnecessary and inconsistent with the other historically appropriate hardware installed, Staff recommends denial of the request to retain them and recommends they be removed.

• Staff Recommendation: Denial

Context Photos:

Retention Documents - Submitted by Applicant:

Sanborn Maps:

Street View:

HDLC Guidelines:

09: 8-9, 11 – Guidelines for Porches, Galleries and Balconies

10: 2, 4-5 – Guidelines for Site Elements

08: 14-15 – Guidelines for Windows and Doors