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HEMA No. 2024-03 – The St. Thomas-Hamilton House (1002 N. French Street) July 15, 2024 Page 6 4 3 8 8 both the historic and later entrances also lacks order, and thus competes with the authentic historic elements. Therefore, their removal would be in keeping with the SOIS and would not affect the historic character of the subject property. 3. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken. The project complies with Standard No. 3. The proposed changes will not create a false sense of historical development. The applicant proposes an overall hierarchical approach to the exterior modifications, to bring more prominence to the original entry porch, while reducing the impacts of the later modifications (i.e. subsequent entry doors and stoops, staircase to upper level). Specifically, the applicant is proposing to retain the existing non-historic concrete stoops, both at the porch and at the entrances subsequently added at the south and east elevations. The existing concrete porch stoops are presumed to be non-original to the house and are most likely later modifications. Although the original porch steps were most likely constructed of wood, the existing concrete stoops are non- descript in character, and do not significantly diminish the overall historic character of the property. The applicant would install concrete pier walls at porch stairs, which are compatible with the historic porch elements, but that are also differentiated to not create a false sense of history. Moreover, the applicant proposes to install metal handrails and guardrails, simple in form and styling (i.e., no knuckles or twists) and finished in a dark color so that they recede from view, at all secondary entrances, as well as staircases to upper level. These new handrails and guardrails will read as contemporary, not conjectural, given the lesser amount of space between each guardrail. Lastly, all character-defining features (e.g., existing porch posts, brackets, balustrade, frieze, spandrels, and skirting) will all be retained and restored to period-correct style, which will blend in with the building and not be considered a conjectural alteration. 4. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved. Standard 4 does not apply, as the project will not remove any significant features that were added over time. 5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property shall be preserved. As conditioned, the project complies with Standard No. 5. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize the property will be preserved. The majority of the project does not Historic Resources Commission 143 7/15/2024