Agenda Packet 11.6.25 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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HPPA No. 2025-11 – The Hickox House (1218 N. French Street) November 6, 2025 Page 2 5 3 6 9 agreements, for eligible properties. The property is listed on the Register and categorized as Key, making it eligible for a Mills Act Agreement. The agreement provides monetary incentives to the property owner in the form of a property tax reduction in exchange for the owner’s voluntary commitment to maintain the property in a good state of repair as necessary to maintain its character and appearance. Once recorded, the agreement generates a different valuation method in determining the property’s assessed value, resulting in tax savings for the owner. Aside from the tax savings, the benefits include: Long term preservation of the property and visual improvement to the neighborhood Allows for a mechanism to provide for property rehabilitation Provides additional incentive for potential buyers to purchase historic structures Discourages inappropriate alterations to the property In 1982, the Council placed the Hickox House on the Register, and in 2000, the Commission approved its categorization within the Key category for its unique architectural quality as an intact residence with the distinguishing characteristics of the Craftsman style. All original and restored exterior features of the Hickox House are considered character-defining and should be preserved. These features include, but may not be limited to: side-gabled roof with wide overhangs and front-gabled dormers, wood shingle and clapboard exterior wall cladding; half-width porch with concrete steps, cut- out rails, tapered column, and arched beam; wood-sash windows in various configurations; glazed wood front door; porch; architectural details, including shaped exposed rafters, bargeboards, and brackets; and landscape retaining wall. Additional character-defining features may be identified as a result of future Planning Division staff review. The following permits for exterior work have been issued for the property: construction of the detached garage in 1928, re-roofing in 1934 and 2018, and replacement of the former asphalt driveway with the existing concrete driveway circa 2022. No other exterior alterations were documented in City building permits; however, during the site inspection conducted in 2025, it was observed that the retaining wall at the front property was punctuated to accommodate a plastic drain pipe. During the 2025 site visit, Planning Division staff noted the property was in excellent condition with no historically inappropriate major modifications. Future improvements (Work Plan) proposed by Planning Division staff and agreed to by the homeowner during the initial ten years of the Mills Act Agreement include: repair cracks and other damage in front porch; repair crack in retaining wall at property line; restore retaining wall at location where the PVC pipe drain was installed; assess roof, exposed rafters, bargeboards, and rain gutters and repaint, repair, or replace in-kind, as necessary; assess condition of paint and exterior wall cladding and repaint, repair, or replace in-kind, as necessary; assess windows and repaint, repair, or replace in-kind, as necessary; assess condition of driveway and concrete paths and driveway and repair in- kind, as necessary. Staff will ensure that the proposed work will be performed sensitively