Re-opening the Back Porch

Before:

After:

Upon removing the porch enclosure, the original porch columns and "Richmond Rail" system were discovered intact.  These will be cleaned, repaired, and reinstalled in order to return the rear porch to its original appearance.  

 

Missing Fireplace Components: Found

2012 Barton Avenue has retained a tremendous amount of its historic architectural features.  The dismantled front porch is an exception to this, as is the absence of the mantel for the fireplace in the front bedroom on the second floor.

The hearthstone confirms that there was indeed a fireplace in this location, but gives little clue as to the appearance of the fireplace.  The rest of the house features a variety of different fireplaces:

A fortuitous search of the attic revealed that a previous owner had the foresight to hold onto the mantel and fireplace insert, which will soon be reinstalled in its original location.

Water Damage

Houses that have been vacant for even a relatively short period of time can begin to deteriorate at an alarming rate.  A portion of this house, along its rear elevation, has sustained water damage and will require a significant amount of demolition and rebuilding.

Water damage visible on the exterior:

And the interior:

As the above photos show, some of the original woodwork has deteriorated beyond repair.  Fortunately, the water damage is confined to a small section at the rear of the house. 

Asphalt Siding Removed

Not bad, eh?  The current owner actually remembers when his relatives had the asphalt siding installed: 1962.  After almost 50 years, the original wood siding underneath is still in decent shape.  Check out the detail of the scalloped wood siding on the front gable:

This detail is also referenced under the transom at the side door:

Existing Conditions: Front Porch

One of the first steps in the historic rehabilitation tax credit process is identifying a building's condition at the beginning of rehabilitation.  Tax credits are awarded based on compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, and part of this involves describing a building's existing condition so that the treatment, or absence of, historic features can be evaluated. 

Although 2012 Barton Avenue is in remarkable condition given that it was vacant for so long, one of the most prominent architectural features, the front porch, was dismantled years ago in an aborted attempt to repair it.  Fortunately, many of the original pieces were saved and stored inside the house. 

Currently, this small section is all that remains of the front porch:

What is left of the rest of the front porch:

Introduction

In November 2009, the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods began working with the owner of 2012 Barton Avenue to assist in the rehabilitation of this handsome Queen Anne house. The house was one of a number of long-vacant properties in the neighborhood, and the Alliance is pleased to announce that rehabilitation work has commenced.

















Savoy Properties is heading up the work, which will be taking advantage of state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

Although many of the property's original historic features have been obscured over the years, the house is in very good condition. Below, one of the original fireplaces in the front parlor.

Stay tuned for more updates as work on this historic Barton Heights property continues.