Daiseys win approval for Lewes renovations
The Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission gave Darryl and Darnell Daisey a green light for the renovation of their contributing house at 111 Coleman Ave.
But the panel rejected a proposed roof peak, which was an important feature of the brothers’ plan to update the property that their family has owned for more than 100 years. The house was built as servant’s quarters.
“This was a hill that was hard to climb,” Darryl said after HPARC unanimously approved the application Feb. 1. ”We would have liked to have the peak. It would have been a great asset. But we’ll make it the best we can.”
The Daiseys presented photos of other historic Lewes homes with roof peaks to try to prove that HPARC has not always adhered to its guidelines when approving applications.
“We presented a good case that was aligned with what they’ve done in the past, but for some reason they didn’t look at their past decisions as part of the real criteria,” Darnell said.
The Daiseys will be extending the front porch roof, and replacing the siding, and door and window trim. They will also be adding a full second floor to an extension in the rear of the house.
That second-floor addition required HPARC to hold a public hearing, even though no part of the contributing structure is being removed. The Daiseys claimed the hearing was not needed, but HPARC’s definitions consider the addition to be a demolition.
The commission listed other applications for which it has held public hearings for demolitions.
Other Daisey family members, neighbors and supporters spoke in support of the project.
“HPARC has a cultural mission now, and it should not be in the business of preventing basically the only African American family on this block from renovating,” said Dionne Daisey-Williford. “We don’t want it to look like servant’s quarters, because history is not the same for everybody.”
Deb Hansen lives just a few feet away on Coleman Avenue, in a similar historic house.
“I’m really eager to see what HPARC plans to do with these cottages, because it’s going to affect future plans for mine as well,” she said.
Hansen said the Daiseys’ plan to possibly have three renters in the house would have an impact on Coleman Avenue’s 11 residential parking spots.
Commissioner Michael Weider said he found that the 111 Coleman Ave. house is a Pre-Railroad Folk-style house, built around 1870, and the only one of its kind in the city.
“You want to save the look of the house because it tells a significant story,” said Commission Chair Barbara Warnell.
Last year, the Daiseys won HPARC’s approval to demolish and rebuild their home at 331 Chestnut St. Darryl said they will be back before the commission sometime in the future for renovations to a third property.
“It’s a little frustrating. The criteria and guidelines are a little vague. It takes a lot of work to understand what information you need,” Darryl said.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
