Comments on: Historic Review Board Denies Chimney Removal

By: Jan Taylor-Day

Jan Taylor-Day — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:01:59 +0000

I agree with Dana Lascu. Please let the new owners lose the chimney.

Although we are in favor of saving the historic character of a structure, my husband and I had three unsafe chimneys removed when we added central heating. and cooling installed (saving the old bricks for future use in a landscape plan). The removal was done with a town permit.

I can understand not allowing architectural features to be removed from a building deemed to be historically important and significant . But in my view, the house in question doesn’t fall into that category.

I am, of course, unaware of the age and history of the house in question and would welcome enlightenment as to the historical significance of the house in particular, and to the neighborhood, in general.

By: Pete Baumann

Pete Baumann — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:57:10 +0000

I don’t know what the new design and color of the home will look like, but the present look and feel of the sorta ugly vinyl siding and pencil-thin, useless chimney are terrible and awful. Preservation for preservation’s sake seems like something future historians will surely second guess. I also don’t think that the HRB is the gestapo. I supppose we can eliminate the board altogether unless it’s tied to historic district tax credits, in which case I surmise that some of the beleagured citizenry will prefer to keep their pitchforks and torches in their sheds and their tax dollars in their pockets.

By: Dana Lascu

Dana Lascu — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 04:25:31 +0000

The chimney looks like an emaciated middle finger on that darling house. Mr. Chairman, be true to history and bring back the guillotine, but please let us lose that chimney, faux or not.

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:32:58 +0000

We have surrendered our rights, and are allowing the Government to ‘sell’ them back to us in the form of ‘permits’.

Mr. Burke is right.

By: Deborah Bender

Deborah Bender — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:45:18 +0000

So Paige Pollard, who also works for J. David McCormack, is going to be “guiding our Historic Review Board” in matters such as the appropriateness of apartments in our historic Old School? I smell something and it isn’t flowers. What is this town thinking, I have to wonder? Can I say CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

By: Daniel Burke

Daniel Burke — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:38:37 +0000

The look and feel of that area is abandoned housing and falling down housing. That’s what is being preserved. They can do all the work that the HRB so graciously “allowed” and then their chimney can fall down on it. Investors beware!

By: David Gay

David Gay — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:18:02 +0000

As the new Chairman of the Historic Review Board I welcome all your comments whether you agree or disagree with the decision of the board. I think it is a good thing when members of the community take an interest in our town government. Please be aware that the Historic Review Board’s mission is to preserve the look and feel of Old Cape Charles. Keep in mind that almost all of the changes to the structure were approved by the board with the exception of the removal of the chimney and the inclusion of a sliding glass door. There was discussion among the members of the board with regard to the chimney and several options were suggested: 1) Repair the existing chimney; 2) Replace the chimney with a false one that looks like the old one; 3) approve the removal of the chimney. The owners submitted pictures of the surrounding structures with similar chimneys. After much discussion the board decided that we would not approve the removal of the chimney as it would change the look of the street. The owners are welcome to appeal the decision to the board at our next meeting. In the meantime, they have the approval to start their project and do most of the work they requested.

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:46:05 +0000

This has nothing to do with chimneys and everything to do with our obeisance to Government.

By: Randy Gibson

Randy Gibson — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:42:13 +0000

I agree with everyone. Requiring the chimney is stupid.

By: Mollie Pickron

Mollie Pickron — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:48:20 +0000

I agree with Dan. A broken down chimney does not have any historical significance in fact, if the homeowners decide to do nothing about the chimney, it will remain to be a danger to the homeowners and passers-by. We took our chimney down years ago and no one has ever noticed! Let’s be reasonable, folks.