LEXINGTON — A proposal that could lead to the demolition of a long-neglected house in the Aylesford Historic District drew immediate skepticism Wednesday, with members of the Lexington-Fayette Board of Architectural Review warning that tearing down a contributing structure would face an unusually high bar. The sharpest discussion came during a conceptual review of a “master plan” affecting 309 and 311 Park Ave., where property owners and their architect outlined a phased approach that includes demolishing 309 Park Ave., constructing a driveway through the lot and adding a rear addition to 311 Park Ave. The owners also control adjacent properties on East High Street and said the plan is aimed at converting former rentals back to single-family homes and stabilizing the block. Planning staff framed the central issue directly for the board: whether demolition of 309 Park Ave. is appropriate and whether the house can be salvaged. Architect Darren Taylor told the board a structural evaluation found extensive deterioration at 309 Park Ave., including compromised framing and foundation issues. He said the cost of rehabilitation, combined with other improvements on the block, made preservation impractical for the owners. Board members pushed back, emphasizing that demolition of a contributing residential structure in a historic district is rare and carries broader implications. Several members said approving such a request could weaken long-standing preservation standards and create a precedent that would encourage demolition of other neglected historic homes. The board’s chair warned that a demolition request would likely generate strong public reaction and suggested the board may need to move beyond its typical informal process. He raised the possibility of a formal evidentiary hearing, with sworn testimony and exhibits, to build a clear legal record before any decision is made. Members also cautioned that the board cannot legally approve demolition based on assurances about a future replacement project, meaning the decision would rest solely on the condition and significance of the existing structure. No vote was taken, and the applicant was encouraged to return with additional documentation and a clearer focus on the demolition question before design details are considered. Another potentially contentious item involved a proposed porte cochere at 265 S. Ashland Ave. in the Aylesford Historic District. Architect Baron Gibson told the board the structure is intended to address daily parking challenges, noting that a detached historic garage on the property is too small for modern vehicles. Staff noted the board had previously denied a similar proposal at the same location in 2021. Several members said the current design would create an inauthentic appearance on a street with historic examples and questioned whether the covered drive could be relocated farther to the rear of the property. The chair told the applicant bluntly that the proposal, as presented, was unlikely to gain approval and urged the design team to explore alternative solutions. A third conceptual review focused on 342 Aylesford Place, where the owner proposed replacing a network of exterior stairs and decks with a two-story rear addition and a redesigned access stair serving a three-unit building. The chair noted the property’s reputation for noise in the neighborhood, while board members discussed whether enclosing portions of the stair system could reduce impacts and soften the building’s appearance. Code requirements for multi-unit structures were also raised as a limiting factor. Outside the conceptual reviews, the board approved several routine items. Members approved a certificate of appropriateness for an elevator addition at Historic St. Paul AME Church, 251 N. Upper St., with conditions requiring any future plan changes to return to staff for review. The board continued, at the applicant’s request, a proposal to construct a single-family home at 2930 Cadentown Road until Jan. 21, 2026. In the Northside Historic District, the board approved a deck and railing at 334 Hampton Court. The board also approved a revised garage-door plan for a carriage house at 247 N. Broadway and 202 Morrow Place after clarifying that the new door would fit within an existing opening and preserve the building’s brick buttresses. The agenda included 13 staff-approved certificates of appropriateness across multiple historic districts, covering routine work such as window restoration, reroofing, fences, sidewalks and steps. The Board of Architectural Review meets monthly at the Division of Planning offices at 200 E. Main St. Meetings are open to the public. BOAR – 12-17Download The post Board of Architectural Review signals tougher road ahead for Park Avenue demolition plan appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less