Lewes demo request sent back to historic preservation commission
Following an eight-hour Lewes Board of Adjustment hearing, a family’s request to demolish their Chestnut Street home was sent back to the city’s historic preservation architectural review commission.
The Daisey family is seeking to demolish the structure at 331 Chestnut St. The April 11 meeting was an appeal of HPARC’s denial during a contentious meeting in December.
Before the April 11 hearing, board Vice Chair Luke Mette proposed remanding the issue to HPARC, but Chair Richard Grier-Reynolds opted to proceed with the hearing, feeling the board was within its charge to settle the dispute.
It took more than an hour to establish rules for the hearing with both parties. The Daiseys sought to prove the home was not historically significant and due to segregation had not been built nor maintained to last for an extended period of time. HPARC believed its charge was to consider the building’s architecture, not personal history.
The board finally agreed to remand the issue to HPARC following lengthy testimonials from witnesses on both sides. After hearing the Daisey family’s evidence of remodeling and proof that their family is the most significant part of the property’s history, the board instructed HPARC members to look beyond architecture when making their determination, as city code instructs. The property is listed as a contributing structure, but it has undergone extensive repair and changes similar to other homes no longer considered contributing.
Evidence from the Dec. 8 hearing and testimony during the April 11 hearing showed HPARC did not consider the entire list of factors when making its ruling. The board determined the commission needed to consider all factors, particularly social and cultural elements, when evaluating an application.
In defense of HPARC’s attempt to preserve the structure, former Councilwoman Bonnie Osler and former historic preservation commission Chair Elaine Simmerman noted they were able to save 344 Savannah Road, the former home of convicted child molester Earl Bradley. Osler used the example to show preservation is about buildings, not history, while Simmerman was proud to save the building on behalf of families that once lived there.
Mette successfully motioned for the Daiseys to appeal the HPARC denial and have commissioners review the request a second time, taking into account all factors listed in the code. The Daisey family plans to submit paperwork to appear on the agenda of HPARC’s Thursday, May 4 meeting.
