May 13, 1999

SUBJECT: HDC 99-0147, 309 Potomac Street

Applicant: Jacob P. Lenihan

309 Potomac Street

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Property Owner:

Jacob P. Lenihan

309 Potomac Street

Rockville Maryland, 20850

Date Filed: April 27, 1999

Historic District Commission Hearing Date: May 18. 1999

NONE

The applicant requests construction of a two car detached garage and driveway in the rear yard of 309 Potomac Street, to be accessed via a rear alley which is used by a number of residents for this purpose. Alley access and right of way is conveyed by deed for the property at 309 Potomac St.

The proposed two car garage is 25 feet by 36 feet (900 square feet) and located three feet from the side property line. The garage is designed in a "carriage house" style utilizing two antique half round windows, one each in the front and rear gable ends of the garage. Proposed materials are simulated wood lap vinyl siding on the garage facades and painted cedar fishscale shingles in the gables. The gables have an Eastlake stick ornamental infill.

The three bay façade that faces Potomac Street has a one over one (1/1) Anderson window flanked by vinyl shutters in the east and west bays and a double door with cross buck design in the center bay. The double door has a carriage light fixture mounted on the façade on each side. The rear façade has two 9 foot by 7 foot roll-up garage doors. Side facades have two evenly- spaced Anderson 1/1 windows.

Staff recommends the HDC find that the proposed garage meets all code requirements, and has been sited to minimize adverse impact on the historic resource and views in the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. A recommendation of approval of HDC99-0147 should be based on site visits of the property and neighboring environment, and appropriateness of the proposed design and material submitted by applicant.

1. Historic, archeological, or architectural value and significance of the site or structure and its relationship to the historic, archeological, or architectural significance of the surrounding area.

The Charles Brewer House is a contributing resource to the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. It was designed in 1913 by Architect B.F. Meyers and built by Franklin H. Karn. It is a seven-room 2-1/2-story frame American Foursquare with Prairie-style features. It has prominent front and side hipped-roof dormers on the moderately pitched hipped slate roof and projecting bays on the side facades. It also has a one-story Doric-columned full width front porch and wood lapped siding with cornerboards and a wide frieze. No garage or carriage house was built in 1913, but access to the rear yard was provided via an alley from Williams Street. The adjacent houses east of 309 Potomac and the houses across Potomac Street are not in the Historic District and are more modern houses. The house and rear yards to the west front on Wall Street and are in the Historic District are of the same construction period as the Charles Brewer House. Some have detached garage buildings erected with the house, but most have detached garages built in the side or rear yard after house construction.

2. The relationship of the exterior architectural features of the structure to the remainder of the structure and to the surrounding area.

The proposed garage is in compliance with Rockville R-90 building restriction lines. The existing small aluminum garden shed will be removed after the garage is built, so the project will not exceed the R-90 accessory building lot coverage.

The garage is designed in a "carriage house" style utilizing two antique half round windows, one each in the front and rear gable ends of the garage. Materials are predominantly modern synthetics, but the Ordinance allows greater latitude when dealing with new construction. Synthetic materials are not recommended for additions to historic structures. The simulated wood lap vinyl on the garage façade is suitable for the purpose intended. The cedar fishscale shingles and Eastlake stick ornamental infill in the gables add an old fashioned touch but are not stylistically related to the house.

The garage will be minimally visible from Potomac Street due to the slanting western property line. It will be visible in glimpses from Wall Street. The greatest impact will be from the subject property and from Wall Street residents' rear windows and yards.

3. The general compatibility of exterior design, scale, proportion, arrangement, texture, and materials proposed to be used.

 New construction must be compatible with adjacent structures. In this case, the accessory garage should primarily be compatible with the main resource, the house at 309 Potomac Street. The garage is designed to the maximum square footage allowed and is a large imposing structure. The decorative features fill space, but also complicate the design. Simplification and a review of the general stylistic design and proportions of the garage might improve the project.

 The eclectic Victorian design incorporates a number of design elements that are not stylistically consistent with the Prairie Foursquare design of the Charles Brewer house. The roof is very high and steeply pitched in proportion to the main body of the garage. As no use is permitted in garage lofts other than routine storage, this height is not required. Rather than eave returns, a beltcourse board is used that is not placed at the junction of the façade and gable. The stickwork gable ornament is appropriate for an Eastlake Victorian, but has no stylistic ties to this Prairie-inspired foursquare. The crossbuck door is more appropriate to a rustic look. The windows and shutters are not in proportion to each other and the building. The antique window, a nice touch, might be more appealing above the doors rather than mounted high in the gable. Suggestions might be:

1. Reduce the height and pitch of the roof;
2. Use eave returns rather than a beltcourse;
3. Substitute 6 light double garage doors for the cross buck doors
4. Place the antique window lower on the gable end;
5. Use narrower windows with proportional shutters
6. Eliminate the Eastlake stick ornament

Site: Staff reviewed the site plan with other site plan reviewers and while it is in compliance with code, there were some suggestions that might help the homeowner to better access and use the garage. First, it was suggested that flaring the driveway entrance to the alley would moderate the present tight turn that could be difficult for larger vehicles. A turning ell, or hammerhead, added to the east side of the driveway apron would allow vehicles to turn around for a front exit from the property.

 Staff recommends that the HDC work with the owner on style and proportion issues.

 Approval is subject to the following conditions:

1. Parking spaces, driveways, and pavement specifications in accordance with the City's Zoning and Planning Ordinance;

0. All construction must be in compliance with the City's construction codes, the Life Safety Code, and the Maryland Building Code;
1. By Rockville Code 25(3)(11), accessory buildings are limited to one story. One third of the loft area may be floored for mezzanine storage. (Section 25-2).

  Community notice sent 5/12/99 to owners of record within .25 miles of the property