Editor’s note: The Daisey family is appealing the Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission’s denial of their request to demolish the home at 331 Chestnut St. The board of adjustment will hear the appeal at its Tuesday, April 11 meeting.
How did 331 Chestnut St. end up at the board of adjustment? I would have thought the unilateral decision by mayor and city council on the net reel would have resonated with the Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission or tempered its views, but apparently not. My opinion was cemented by the commission’s we-don’t-have-to-do-anything attitude. HPARC’s tunnel view of Lewes remains out of sync with the city’s mission statement and the resulting collateral damage. Soon, Lewes is going to be an all-white town unless there is a mindset to consider exceptions, history and the city’s mission statement.
At the Dec. 8 HPARC hearing, I believe the Daisey family had all their ducks in a row. However, they were not allowed to fully explain their position, publicly lectured and their expertise demeaned. HPARC’s own lawyer reminded the commission that a decision could be delayed for 60 days. No matter, HPARC summarily declined the application. Randy Burton spoke up in favor of a delay, but he was overruled. Perhaps, he saw there might be a compromise or time for further research.
Exceptions. If you have the power, you make the rules and can create exceptions to the old rules. I know of two exceptions: Victorian houses and the disregard for setback rules when property is deemed open space. I believe, without basis, there are historical exceptions in the building code designed to overcome a particular problem.
A statement I made earlier saying I was against tearing down houses on Black-owned property was taken out of context and needs to be corrected. With the destruction of Black houses, the sale of property is for the land only, which frees the developer to build whatever he/she wants. To my knowledge, HPARC has never found any house owned by Blacks worthy of a historic designation. If so, the property value might be more affordable and attract more diverse buyers.
In this instance, there is no third-party sale. Further, the property is not being used efficiently or to its optimum potential and presents a potential fire hazard. We hear about preservation and roots back to the 18th century, but the Daisey family also has traced its lineage to the 1700s. This family has prospered through slavery, reconstruction, Black codes, Jim Crow, the fight for civil rights and the history of Lewes to present day; accomplished by an ancestor’s sheer determination and dream for his family. The Daisey family is the real treasure along with their ancestral home, unfortunately held captive in a zone designation in which the family played no part. With their legacy, status as residents and professional accomplishments, the Daisey family is an asset to the community, eligible to participate in the local government, as well as being a treasure trove of Lewes history.
Let them build their house and comply with an updated version of streetscape. In other words, let common sense prevail by balancing Lewes’ mission statement, the collateral damage and preservation of Lewes’ living history.
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