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
: 3/3/2010
Lack of communication on who's part, the ARB for not saying we want total control of the historic district regardless of the city laws (are they following the example set by their illustrious leader King Scoville) or martin and stack for not seeking the arb approval to legitimately do their job. since this is a church the arb has waged war on I hope they have prayed for forgiveness for trying to punish a house of worship
: 3/3/2010
Is Mr. Stack no longer there? Is this guy totally running the department now?
: 3/2/2010
From what I can gather, the staff member is Ricky Martin and he is actually the one who does inspections and knows the codes which to enforce in that area. Does he know the guidelines that dictate what goes before the ARB and what doesn't, only time will tell. I suspect that weight is being tossed around by power hungry volunteers who can't seem to simply do their job but want to make everybody's business their business. I am grateful I now longer live here this beautiful town is going to hell in a handbasket.
: 3/2/2010
I have read so many things about this ARB Board and I wonder who these people think they are? Whoever this Rene King is is quoted saying “We want to be consistent in how we treat people in the Historic District. The expertise is here to assist the building department.” What background do these people have to be experts in this area? Someone please enlighten me? ‘Lack of Communication’ – Well now really? Who is that new staff person who has been working with the ARB the past few meetings? One has to wonder if he has even read the guidelines or understands them. The city is getting to a place where the census shows we are losing people but in my opinion we are losing our rights because of board members like these and a staff person that serves a board that doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing either. In my opinion the city should get rid of all of them and start over.
: 3/1/2010
tear the da** thing down and start over that'll solve the issue, when a city goes after a church that is just sad,sad,sad
: 3/1/2010
When these boards start becoming problematic. The homeowners should just go ahead with their repairs and keep the construction up to code. A safety or potential damage issue will win in court as long as an effort to communicate was made and the repairs were needed.
ARB : 2/25/2010
I don't live in Georgetown, so I care little about ARB's concerns. But, from afar, it looks to me that there is some childish turf protection in play. Statements like "lack of communication" are always the tip off. But communication works both ways. Seems the ARB wants people to talk to them, but not vice versa. That's Latin for "turf."
: 2/20/2010
"Expertise", Mr. King?
As a previous poster stated, code used to require ARB approval only for change to the exterior of a building within the historic district, or for a new structure - not for repair returning it to the condition it was in before time and elements took their toll. Has this, indeed, changed? If so, all homeowners within the historic district should be officially informed to avoid inadvertantly running afoul of the law.
The particular example set forth in the article as precipitating comments from ARB appointees, the Rectory of Prince George Church, appears to make their demand for control even more ludicrous. The members of that congregation paid BIG bucks for that property and, surely, wish to protect their investment. As work has been done on property of that church, true experts have been consulted (as I understand, even experts can have differing opinions)and close supervision of the work has occurred to insure that things have been "done right". As long as no changes are made to the rear elevation of that building, there should be no problem with the repair work being done.
Quoting from the article:
"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"
Perhaps both the ARB and the City should review their guidelines, share with the other, and follow them thus avoiding stated "problems" in the future.
: 2/19/2010
Unless the codes have changed recently routine repairs and maintenance in like kind are not under ARB jurisdiction. Hence the flap over the exertion of power here. B&P followed the guidelines. They should be monitoring the situation to make sure the repairs are done right. If the ARB takes over simple maintenance then all Historic District residents and business owners cannot replace a single piece of wood for a minimum of 6 weeks to move through the application and approval process.
: 2/19/2010
It seems that I am always reading negative things about the ARB. They don't always get it right, but they don't need to be done away with. If they operate like they should, they are here to protect our historic city. If people don't like to follow rules about architecture in this town, DON'T BUY PROPERTY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT!!!!!!
: 2/19/2010
What needs to be done is do away with the ARB and let people repair their OWN property as they need to. This is an example Goverment excess at work. the city and the ARB can't get together to replace a few boards on a porch. first of all the building permit is a TAX and does nothing but hinder the home owner and the ARB is a bunch of nosey people that need to stay out of property owners business. TOO much goverment period. This is why the country is the shape it is in. It starts here at the local level with stuff like this and just spirals completely out of control all the way to Washington. Goverment will never get it right as long as there goal is to rule and dictate over the people. Are we really free in this country anymore? That's my 2 cents!