Town Council will hear another appeal to a Historic District Review Board decision next Thursday. This appeal has to do with the work proposed for the old gym at 12 Peach Street.
The HDRB denied the application because they wanted a storefront sample with “a more molded appearance; not square profile”. The board’s request is curious, as custom profiles are normally not found in storefront systems. Walker and Laberge, the architects noted that molded wall and window wall systems, would be inappropriate “and extreme overkill” for a ground-level project.
The HDRB also denied the use of mosaic tile for the entryway. Mosaic tile is currently found in several structures in the historic district, including the Betis Building renovation on Strawberry Street (now Breezes).
In the appeal, the owner Anne Payne stated, “I have provided ample documentation supporting the guideline compliance of the proposed work as well as pictorial evidence of flat profile storefront systems and mosaic tile entries as prevalent features throughout the historic district. The HDRB’s request for a storefront with more profile is unduly oppressive, unreasonable and arbitrary, based on a biased opinion, and lacking consideration of the historic district as a whole, relevant standards and accepted industry principles and practices. The denial of the mosaic tile work reflects a biased opinion, is in direct conflict with most of the guidelines, lacks consideration of the historic district as a whole, and holds no correlation to the public interest being served. “
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Historic is necessary. To sway even a little gives the so called board members a Lee-way to start getting rid of tradition.
Get rid of the morons controlling the board!
So when did Cape Charles have a Historic District ?> lets get the story straight Cape Charles is and was an old Rail Road Town Linking Cape Charles via Ship and barge to the main land . and the Old Town over the years grew from Rail employment .and Steam Ship YOU CANT MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A PIGS EAR There is nothing Historic in Cape Charles NOW EASTVILLE is another Story A great Town going back to the 1700 and still a beautiful Town