5326 Prytania St.

Description: Demolition through raising the building at a Contributing rated, raised-basement, single-family residential building. 

Staff Recommendations: 

FEMA research estimates that 5326 Prytania St was constructed between 1920-1930, within the Period of Significance of the Uptown distict. The building contributes to the neighborhood as a raised basement with stucco battered porch posts and roof rafter tails. The proposal seeks to increase the total building height by 9'-4". The applicant would raise the building:  

1. by 4'-0" to bring the current basement floor above base flood elevation, and 

2. by 5'-4" to create habitable space with a 10-0" ceiling height.

HDLC Staff finds that the proposal highly alters the integrity of the building massing and creates an awkward connection to the street from the front porch entry. Staff does not object to raising the building above base flood elevation, but recommends raising the building as minimally as possible to create living space on the ground floor. The existing basement ceiling height is within 4" of providing the code required 7'-0" ceiling height of an habitable space. The Staff proposal would raise the building by a total height of 4'-4". (Five feet less than the applicant's proposal.) Additionally, Staff recommends the applicant explore a rear addition if additional square footage with a higher ceiling height is desired.

• Recommendation: Deny

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