1517 Euterpe St

Staff Recommendations:

1517 Euterpe Street is a contributing ca. 1860 two-family, two-story, clipped gable and hipped roof residential building with Italianate detailing. Historically, the building sported a two-story gallery at its front façade with balconies extending down its side elevations.

In 2019, the HDLC placed a violation on the property for work performed without HDLC permitting (#19-02118). This violation stemmed from work completed in ca. 2016. The violation included the removal of existing six over six wood windows and the installation of inappropriate vinyl windows at side elevations, the removal of side elevation balconies and portions of enclosed side balconies, and the removal of decorative trim and cornices at front façade windows.

The property has a lengthy history of HDLC violations for both working without permits and Demolition by Neglect (DbyN) conditions. This track record has caused the building to be in a state of disrepair for several years and at times has resulted in inappropriate alterations. In 2014 an HDLC CofA (#14-24248) was issued to address a number of DbyN conditions. This CofA included line items to replace missing glass in windows and repairs to columns and balustrades at side elevation balconies. Between 2014-2016, work completed under this CofA far exceeded the approved scope, eventually being cited under the 2019 violation.

Per the 1909 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (below) the building not only had an impressive double front gallery but originally included two-story balconies at its left and right side elevations. At some point in the building's history, sections of the side balconies closest to Euterpe Street were removed and/or enclosed. It is likely that the enclosed portions served as early-twentieth-century water closets. The enclosed portions of the side balconies and those at the rear where the building steps in were removed without HDLC approval at some time after the issuance of the 2014 CofA. At that time, the existing six over six wood windows at the rear left and right side elevations were removed and replaced with inappropriate grille in between the glass vinyl windows. In addition, at least one door on each side elevation was removed and replaced with a window. This scope of work would have required the review and approval of the NO Commission. Repair work to the front façade during this project also led to the removal of decorative cornices at first story front façade windows.

Historic documentation and photographs of the building highlight the importance of the character defining side elevation balconies. Currently, large voids of space between first and second story windows at these locations make for an awkward condition. Staff recommends retention of the removal of the enclosed water closet portions closer to Euterpe Street as they distracted from the building and were not original. Staff recommends approval of retention of inappropriate vinyl windows at side elevations with the proviso that the rear side elevation balconies are reconstructed to match the existing condition. Staff also recommends denial of retention of the removed window cornices and that window cornices be installed to match existing at front façade windows.