815 Third St

District: Irish Channel - Full Control

Owner: Eloise Daniel

Rating: Contributing

Applicant: Code Enforcement City of New Orleans

HDLC Guidelines:

Section 12, Pages 23-24 of the Guidelines for New Construction, Additions and Demolition states that the demolition of all or portions of historic resources within a local Historic District or Landmark site are considered drastic actions, since they alter the character of the area. Once historic resources or buildings that contribute to the heritage of the community are destroyed, it is generally impossible to reproduce their design, texture, materials, details and their special character and interest in the neighborhood. When reviewing demolition applications at properties located within a Historic District or at a Landmark site, the HDLC uses the following criteria in its evaluations:

• The historic or architectural significance of the building or structure as designated by its “rating”: Contributing.

• The importance of the building or structure to the tout ensemble of the area: FEMA survey research indicates the original building was likely constructed between 1870 and 1880 and first appears on the 1875 Robinson Atlas. The 1887 Sanborn map shows the roof overhangs added at the rear to cover the side porches. The original building has maintained its style, scale, massing, roof form, and footprint since the 1887 Sanborn map.

• The alternatives to demolition that have been explored by the applicant: None on record.

• The special character and aesthetic interest that the building or structure adds to the local Historic District: The one-story Italianate shotgun appears to have retained some of its original character-defining architectural features including 6/6 and 4/4 wood windows, decorative brackets, wood window and door casings on the front façade, and wood transom. However, most of the building is covered in vinyl siding and cornerboards, it is unclear if the wood siding exists underneath. Further, the door and window openings appear to be in their original locations, except for the second front door on the right that was replaced with a window at some point.

• The difficulty or impossibility of reproducing such a building or structure because of its design, texture, material or detail: Based on the size of the building's footprint and minimal exterior architectural elements, it would likely not be more expensive or difficult to reproduce the building today rather than maintaining it in its current form. However, it should be taken into account that this building sits on an undersized lot and building a new building would likely require several Zoning variances.

• The condition of the building or structure:

Previous Inspection 10/20/22: HDLC Inspector Daniel Syal performed an exterior visual inspection on October 20, 2022 and found the building in poor condition. However, an inspection from the public right-of-way did not conclusively reveal that the building was in Imminent Danger of Collapse. On the exterior, there were apparent bulges in the vinyl siding and some sagging in the roof, indicating areas of structural deterioration. However, there were no signs of complete failure. The visible floor joists were in good condition, indicating they are still secured to a sill that is not dramatically deteriorated. There was no evidence of termites at the exterior. The massive amount of vegetation, the deteriorated roof structure, and the improperly boarded window and door openings will cause the building to rapidly deteriorate if not rehabilitated. However, without an interior inspection of the building and a more detailed look at its framing members, it is difficult to determine the amount of damage to the building.

Recent Inspection 12/16/22: Inspector Daniel Syal performed a second exterior visual inspection on December 16, 2022. Access to the interior of the building was not possible. However, the condition of the building was further documented with photos of the joists, sills, and piers. All of which appeared to be in sound condition. Visual inspection through the windows revealed no signs of cracked plaster or any evidence of walls separating.

Staff Recommendations:

The one-story, Italianate shotgun appears to have retained its scale, massing, siting, roof form and footprint to this day, from the 1887 Sanborn map, and it first appears on the 1875 Robinson Atlas. The building has maintained several of its original character defining details including wood windows and decorative brackets. However, the building has been encapsulated with vinyl siding. Pulling back of the vinyl siding revealed the building to be constructed of barge board. The HDLC inspector found the building to be in poor condition from a visual exterior inspection, citing some noticeable deterioration with bulges in the vinyl siding and some sagging in the roof. A second exterior visual inspection revealed joists, sills, and piers in sound condition. What was visible of the interior through the windows showed no signs of cracked plaster or any evidence of walls separating. A full interior inspection was not able to be conducted. With the information provided from both exterior inspections, Staff recommends denial of the demolition.

• Staff Recommendation: Denial