The Historical Society in Stephens City,VA won't let me put siding on my 200 year old home. Any good suggestions on web sites to help me out in my fight?
2007-07-05 14:56:51 · 5 answers · asked by Teresa B 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
There are at least 5 different types of boards on my house. I want to put siding on that will improve the appearance. When we bought the house over 25 years ago we did not live in the historical district. The front half of our home was originally log and there is not insulation in the walls. If we are able to put siding on we would at least have some form of insulation! We are in the process of putting on a new roof, the same type of tin roof which had to be approved. Our next door neighbor built an addition to their home that looks like a double wide trailer and they have a stucco home.
2007-07-05 15:44:15 · update #1
~If all else fails, spend a few bucks and hire a lawyer. He/she might not be able to do anything for you either but at least you'll get an answer from someone with a modicum of knowledge on the subject. Or, burn the sucker down and rebuild with the insurance money.
2007-07-05 17:50:56 · answer #1 · answered by Oscar Himpflewitz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I too live in a home which is in a neighborhood that is listed in the National Historical Registry. Such neighborhoods and homes are controlled to some extent as to what the owner can do as to changes. Usually this pertains to the outside that can be seen by the public. The intent is to maintain the original style for historical context.
Those of us who live in such districts have purchased these structures with the understanding that there are such rules and controls.
My home has a stucco exterior and any maintenance must be done in that same original style. I can change color. The same is true of the windows, that is, in my case these are wood window frames and replacing them must be done in wood and of the same style.
The interior is a different story. There I can change things pretty much to my desire. However, it is our intent to maintain the interior décor as close to original as possible.
You didn’t explain exactly what the difference is between you and the historical commission relative to the siding. I suspect that you want to cover the original siding with plastic or aluminum, if so I can see why you have a problem and will likely lose any contest between you and the historical society. There are types of fiber siding which can be made to look very close to original wood siding and you might be able to convince the historical commission to allow such siding, but you won’t save any money (if that is the intent) because it might even cost more than just repairing original wood.
If you are not satisfied with the requirements of the historical commission, your best recourse maybe to just sell and move to another area.
If money is the primary issue, you might approach your city council and see if there is assistant funding available. Some communities have "block grant funding" available to assist with such projects.
2007-07-05 22:21:33 · answer #2 · answered by Randy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As someone said, if you moved into a historical district, you would be on public notification or pre-knowledge of the conditions of ownership in a historical district. That being a notification in the county land deed register, of a condition being placed on your house requiring you to get approval for any changes to the outside of your house. BUT, as you owned the property before the creation of the historical district, I would suggest hiring a lawyer as you have an excellent shot of being "grandfathered in" to the prior conditions at the time of the purchase of your land, rather than the new conditions.
whale
2007-07-06 13:51:35 · answer #3 · answered by WilliamH10 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should sell the house to them.
2007-07-05 22:03:21 · answer #4 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What is wrong with the siding?
2007-07-05 22:07:55 · answer #5 · answered by bethsmom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋