This 1910 bungalow at 925 Walnut St. S.W. is undergoing a total renovation. One aspect of the project is awaiting approval by the Albany Landmarks Commission.
The Albany Landmarks Commission is asking for more details before approving one alteration on the outside of a 114-year-old house in the Monteith Historic District.
Lee Anne Stevens, identified on Facebook as an “Airbnb superhost ambassador,” bought the bungalow at 925 Walnut St. S.W. in May for $200,000. The one-story house with a basement was built in the Craftsman style in 1910.
Now the owner’s contractor, Mike Lovemark, is in the middle of completely renovating the place. The house is getting a new roof, plumbing and furnace, and an added bathroom and bedroom. Two interior walls and an interior stairwell are being removed.
The owner plans to reopen the porch and add a set of steps in front, where there was a stairway when the house was built.
It is that exterior change that put the project before the Landmarks Commission, which held a public hearing last week. After watching a video of the hearing, I rode the bike past the house on Monday and took the photo you see here.
Caution tape and warning signs meant that the removal of lead paint was under way.
The owner told the Landmarks board that the new front stairway would go where traces of the original one can be seen. But the members wanted to see drawings, including “two elevations,” illustrating where the steps will be. They put off action on the application until their next meeting Aug. 7.
The house is listed as “historic contributing” on the city’s inventory of historic properties even though a 2002 report said the structure had been altered and had “irretrievable lack of integrity.”
With all that, one wonders why it matters where the new stairs are attached and why the owner has to wait for another meeting to get them approved. (hh)
You ask, does it matter where the stairs are attached?
Clearly it does to authoritarians drunk on their power to coerce conformity and submission on some Albany property owners.
The rest of us just shake our heads in disbelief….
Thank you, Hasso, for your thoughtful article. Hopefully, it will help push along the Landmark’s decision to allow rebuilding the front steps in their original location. I’m very excited to be rehabbing this house and making it available as a rental in the Monteith District. Thank you for your support!
Yay for Hasso Hering!! The city is slow and inefficient when it comes to these matters. As far as I’m concerned, the fact that the new owner wants to not only improve the property but reintroduce historic elements that were long lost is a tribute to her integrity. Let’s go Landmark board! Stop holding up this project!
Speaking of stairs, what’s the story with the missing porch/stairs at the back door of the Cumberland Church/Community Center?
Lee Anne is not only a Superhost on Air BnB, she is a smart woman! She has a taken on a few cottage like homes in Albany that have been completely renovated into lovely homes on Air BnB. Lee Anne is very gracious with a bubbly personality. She brings a lovely touch of home for visitors to Albany, while adding revenue to the shops and restaurants.
I have been one of her visitors! Go Lee Anne!!
What has to happen to have this “Landmarks commission” put out of business? Ridiculous that they can control what people do with their property.
This situation explains things in a nutshell. The city may have wanted the house to be torn down and used for apartments. I hope the citizens of Albany are paying attention to this issue and realize that the city’s goals and use of the rules only apply to whatever the city wants to do. The city always finds away to justify anything they want to do to anyone.
MarkK, the steps to the west entry on the Cumberland were removed when the building was relocated. The wooden landing/porch was subsequently removed due to its deteriorated condition.
The plan is to construct a new concrete landing for the west entry with a ramp to make the entry ADA accessible. This is part of the work to bring the building up to code and is currently in the planning stage.
Thanks Joel! It always catches my eye when I drive by. I’ve been curious.