The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission approved new construction in a historic district Saturday, April 6.
Jordan Smith, owner of property at 724 Eighth Avenue whose ranch home burned down last spring, was seeking approval to move forward with construction of his new home.
Smith said he will be using the existing foundation and be building a similar stly ranch home on the property.
One of the biggest changes will be moving the garage from under the home to behind the home, with a connected breezeway. The new garage is located more towards the alley of the property.
“I’ll be losing the ash tree that is in my yard as part of the construction,” Smith said. I hate losing a tree, but because it is an ash, it was most likely going to need to come out at some point anyway.”
Commission member Guy Booth indicated that the building will look very similar to what it once looked like along Eighth Avenue.
Smith said that he will be using a cultured stone on the base to hide the concrete foundation, which will look similar to limestone used in the district. He will be using a blue vinyl siding, similar to what was on the home in the past.
“There’s going to be minimal excavation that will need to be completed,” Smith said. “The garage foundation is probably the most extensive portion of excavation.”
Commission member Duane Eash asked if any exterior lighting will be completed.
Smith said he is not a favor of exterior lighting that’s used on a lot of modern homes, so there is no plan for this new construction to feature that.
“I want this to fit into the current neighborhood, just like my home used to,” Smith said.
Booth recommended a certificate of appropriateness, noting the size and nature of the project and the work Smith and contractors have made to blend the building into those in the historic district.
Suzette Astley recommended the application note that when the historic district was formed, a number of ranch houses were included in the district, this home previously damaged by fire being one of them. The house was rebuilt with an added footprint of a garage at the rear of the house, with accents of Craftsman style pillars at the front and a new porch.
Smith said that construction may begin on the new house within the next week.
Bigs Barbecue signage
Bigs Barbecue also received a certificate of appropriateness for the signage and window painting of their business in the uptown historic district in a review with MVHPC.
Commission president Sue Astley said that some business owners have come to the city and Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission prior to moving into new businesses in the uptown or before doing work on their signage, while others did not realize they needed city approval of their signage before doing work on it.
Bigs BBQ and Brew Pub was one of those new owners who had signs that were not approved by the city before moving into the uptown district.
Owner Nanette Rambo said the business had brought two of their lighted signs from their old location along Second Avenue to their new business in uptown historic district, and discovered those signs did not meet the standards.
“I totally understand not wanting signs that make the downtown appear garish or have a stigma for advertising and am willing to comply, but I also want to be sure that all businesses are meeting the same standards,” Rambo said.
She said that for Bigs, the signs were ones they had previously at their former location and hadn’t invested a lot in the signs they were using, but other businesses in the uptown have invested more in lighted signs.
Commission member Guy Booth said at issue is the city ordinance when it comes to lighted signs.
“We’re not imposing new guidelines, we’re reviewing if signage fits with city code and if it is appropriate for the district,” Booth said.
Blinking neon signs were one of the issues that does not comply with the current signage ordinance, and two of the signs for Bigs BBQ had elements that blinked.
Other businesses in uptown with signs not in compliance or permitted are being approached by city planner Leigh Bradbury to address the matter. Many of those out of compliance elements were discovered as the city was looking at the buildings along the uptown as part of the streetscape project.
Rambo had a replacement open sign that is being ordered that will not have flashing lights that will help people know when the business is open she will be ordering.
As well, the window painting that had been done prior to the meeting for the new business was approved by the commission.
Booth approved of a certificate of appropriateness for the district for the new signage and window painting.
Rambo said an issue she has noticed is some of the signage at Scorz directly across the street from Bigs which also has some blinking elements, and thinks the city should review that as well or possibly look at their ordinance.
“If the city is encountering many issues with signs in the uptown, maybe it’s time for that ordinance to be reviewed,” Rambo said.
MVHPC approves new construction, Bigs BBQ signage
Nathan Countryman, Editor
April 11, 2024
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.