GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  The deteriorating front porch of the Kaminski House Museum will finally be replaced now that the work has the blessing of the Georgetown City Architectural Review Board.

However, the repairs could have taken place much sooner if the ARB had a better line of communication with city officials, members of the board said during a special meeting Wednesday.

Kaminski House Director Cindy Kinder showed the ARB where boards on the porch of the historic home are coming up.

She said every board on the porch must be replaced as well as some brick columns under the porch.

While many of the boards have been replaced through the years, the columns have been in place since 1949, Kinder said.

The cost is estimated at less than $10,000.

Kinder said the supplies have been on hand  for quite a while and workers have been ready to do the job but it could not start without approval from the city and ARB.

After seeing the damaged porch first-hand, the ARB returned to City Hall to continue its discussion.

The repair work was quickly approved then the panel discussed the bigger problem they say they have been experiencing.

‘Lack of Communication’

ARB Chairwoman Jan Lane said there are currently two houses in the city’s Historic District undergoing renovations that have not received approval from that panel.

“It’s our responsibility to know about these issues,” she said.

City ordinances require any major repairs on any building in the Historic District be reviewed and approved by the ARB.

The renovations that drew the most concern by the ARB are taking place at a house on Screven Street next to Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church.

The rear siding of the house — owned by the church — has been removed as part of the renovations.

The ARB says the church was issued a building permit by Interim Planning Director Steve Stack.

ARB member Rene King, during the meeting, said when the city issues such permits to some without ARB approval and not to others, it causes problems.

“We have some people asking why they had to go through the ARB and their neighbors did not,” King said. “We want to be consistent in how we treat people in the Historic District. The expertise is here to assist the building department.”

Lane agreed, saying “the public has to be treated fairly and the same.”

The Times tried to get comments from Stack and City Administrator Chris Eldridge but there was no response by Thursday’s  deadline.

King suggests a workshop be scheduled  between the ARB, the building department and Elise Crosby, the city’s attorney, to try to improve the communication flow to the ARB.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com