929-931 Mandeville St.

Staff Recommendations: 

On June 13, 2024, an HDLC Building Inspector observed that a visually prominent HVAC mini-split unit and associated conduit were installed on the right side of the building without a mechanical permit or CofA. In addition to being clearly visible from the street at this location, the unit does not meet the CZO-required 18-inch minimum setback from the property line (only 10 inches are provided).

The Commission previously considered this retention request at the July 9, 2025 meeting and voted to defer the application until such time as (1) the applicant could provide additional information to support the request for retention due to financial hardship by submitting cost estimates for relocation and/or further clarification as to why relocating the unit beyond the right-side door opening would not be financially feasible, and (2) the applicant obtained the necessary BZA waiver or variance for the HVAC unit to remain at this location.

Since that meeting, the applicant has received a reasonable accommodation from the City Planning Commission based on health factors, satisfying the waiver/variance requirement. The applicant continues to request retention of the unit at its current location. A cost estimate of $2,900 has been provided for relocating the unit, refrigerant lines, and controls to the rear of the building; however, no additional information on why this is cost prohibitive has been submitted. For reference, the initial installation cost was indicated as $8,700, and the estimate for relocation was provided by the same contractor.

The HDLC Design Guidelines note that the location and visibility of modern mechanical equipment, while often necessary, can have a significant negative impact on the historic integrity of a building and the surrounding area. Although the unit was installed without HDLC approval and is visually prominent from the street, it is located approximately 11'-9" behind the front building wall, and the exterior supply runs are minimal and enclosed within rigid conduit covers. Based on these factors, and in consideration of the reasonable accommodation granted by CPC, Staff recommends approval of the request for retention with the proviso that the conduit covers are painted to match the adjacent wall and that new 7'-0" tall wood fencing is installed along the right side of the building to further reduce the unit’s visibility and impact on the streetscape.