Cottages replacing 125-year-old shacks fit DNA of this Beaufort neighborhood. Here’s why
Ken Singleton’s family has owned two aging structures within the Beaufort’s National Historic District for decades. It disappointed preservationists when he announced plans earlier this year to demolish two 125-year-old cottages and set off a debate about the viability of preservation work for some residents of the state’s second oldest city. Singleton put it simply: It was cheaper to build new houses than to fix up his crumbling shacks, even if they were historic.
The lengthy debate over his plans, which came in February, highlighted tension between protecting historic homes and increasing renovation costs in the city’s historic district, where new development and renovations get scrutinized. The concern was one reason the city in June decided to set aside $50,000 for a pilot program to help with neighborhood revitalization of dilapidated structures.
In contrast to his demolition plans, Singleton is now finding strong support for the two cottages he is planning to build in place of the old houses at 1607 and 1609 Duke Street. The Historic District Review Board approved the demolitions in February and the lot has since been cleared, making way for new houses but they will have an old look.
Even historic preservationists who opposed the demolition, who felt more could have been done to save the houses, say the planned cottages and their simplistic design touches including porches fronting Duke Street will fit well with the neighborhood and pay homage to its feel and history.
“We like this project very much,” said Maxine Lutz, who sits on the Historic Beaufort Foundation’s Historic Preservation Committee.
The old cottages are considered the “freedman style,” a reference to freedman cottages that formerly enslaved people and their descendants built throughout the city. With their rectangular shapes, gabled roofs and porches, freedman cottages stand out for their simplicity and function.
Mike Sutton, chairman of the Historic District Review Board, said the new cottages on Duke Street “are as appropriate as you can get based on the DNA of that neighborhood.” They are 1,100 square feet in size, about the same foot print, and will have porches fronting Duke Street, just like the old ones. A driveway will be shared.
Designs of the two cottages “are sympathetic to the mass, scale and design” of the former structures and meet the standards required for the Historic District, said Curt Freese, the city’s Community Development director.
If there is any criticism, Freese said, it’s that the new buildings could be too similar to the former buildings.
“While new infill should be designed to be sensitive and complementary to Beaufort’s existing historic buildings, new construction should not give the illusion of being a historic structure,” Freese says in a report.
Linda Coe, who lives down the street from the project, is “so glad something’s being done with the property” and that somebody stepped up to make a change.
Property owner Singleton is working with the Freedman Arts District. That’s a not-for-profit that is financing restorations within historic neighborhoods. It was launched last year to save historic properties while generating income for the owners who rent them out to repay the investment in the renovation.
But Singleton, through the organization, decided to seek the demolition permits after restoration costs for his properties came in too high.
Architect Arnie McClure of Coast Architects, who is working for Freedman Arts District, says he was given three goals as he considered the design: create affordable housing, contribute to the preservation of the neighborhood’s character and retain ownership for Singleton.
The design is simple, McClure says.
“So we’re not getting super crazy with anything,” McClure said. “Pretty straightforward materials.”
The Historic District Review Board still must vote on the final approval of the replacement cottages. It unanimously voted July 10 to give “conceptual approval.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 12:51 PM.
