Should Town Follow its Own Historic Guidelines?

Former town library, now Civic Center, risks losing both its chimneys. (Wave photos)

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

May 18, 2015

Would the historic structure at 500 Tazewell Avenue be just as historic without its two chimneys? That’s a decision to be made by the Historic District Review Board at its Tuesday, May 19, meeting.

The building, once a Methodist Church and more recently the Cape Charles Memorial Library, is now the town’s “Civic Center” hosting public meetings. Town officials have recommended removal of both chimneys due to leaking around the flashing. Despite their best efforts, town maintenance workers have not been able to stop the leaks.

Town Planner Larry DiRe has advised that “the guidelines are rather quiet on the status of chimneys.” But then, curiously, he quotes the guidelines as explicitly stating that “historic building roof types, including elements such as chimneys and light wells, should be retained (Building Element 1, page 34).”

The Historic Review Board ruled in May 2013 that a non-historic house at 621 Jefferson Avenue undergoing remodeling had to install a fake chimney to replace a decrepit flue being removed (CLICK). Following community ridicule the Board reversed itself.

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There are two major differences in the current application: First, the building is one of the most important historic structures in town. Second, the owner is the Town of Cape Charles — an entity not well known for respecting its own historic guidelines. Examples are the new bathroom in the park designed to resemble a 1960s sewer pumping station, and the decision to allow a parking lot in front of the historic Cape Charles High School.

Back chimney would also be removed.