The Landmark Commission on May 5 approved a certificate of appropriateness for new construction at 3627 Havana Street in the Wheatley Place Historic District, attaching conditions intended to align the design with neighborhood character.

City staff and the Landmark task force recommended approval of the proposed single‑family house with an accessory rear‑yard carport, and listed several conditions: extend the front porch gable to space four porch columns evenly, extend the freeze board across the full porch, make the porch depth a minimum of 6 feet, use cast‑stone caps on porch column bases and wing walls, add vents and brackets as typical in the neighborhood and ensure foundation height of 15–18 inches above grade. Task force suggestions included recommended window types (white aluminum 1‑over‑1), exposed rafter tails, craftsman‑style lighting and novelty siding.

A resident and the applicant spoke in support. Archie Cano (project stakeholder) emphasized compatibility with neighborhood scale and materials. Commissioners asked for additional minor changes to improve the appearance from the street and to ensure the porch and cheek walls align with traditional proportions. The commission’s motion approved staff recommendations and added direction to the applicant to consider moving utilities or reconfiguring interior layouts so that additional front and rear windows can be added for better interior light and exterior balance.

The motion passed with no recorded opposition. Staff will review the applicant’s final plans to confirm the required porch depth, foundation height, column and wing‑wall alignment, and the other detail conditions before issuing a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Speakers

- Archie Cano — community stakeholder (speaker)
- Applicant/Designer (represented at hearing)

Authorities

- City of Dallas Code, 51A‑4.501 (preservation criteria)
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (cited by staff in recommendations)

Actions

- Kind: certificate_of_appropriateness (new construction)
- motion: "Approve CA for new main residential building with accessory carport at 3627 Havana St., subject to: extend front porch gable and evenly space columns; freeze board across porch; minimum porch depth 6 feet; cast‑stone porch cap/wing walls; foundation minimum 15–18 inches above grade; add windows to side elevations; exposed rafter tails and brackets as shown; final details per staff and task force recommendations."
- mover: "Commissioner Renault"
- second: "Commissioner Taylor"
- vote_record: []
- tally: {"yes":17,"no":0,"abstain":0}
- outcome: "approved"
- notes: "Staff to verify final elevations and details before issuing CA."

Discussion_decision

- Discussion points: porch depth and proportions, foundation height and presence of cheek walls aligned with columns, possibility of reconfiguring utility placement to allow additional windows for interior light.
- Directions: Applicant to revise drawings to show porch depth at least 6 feet, extend freeze board, cast stone caps, and align cheek walls with porch columns; staff to confirm details prior to permit issuance.
- Decisions: Motion carried; CA to be issued when conditions satisfied.

Clarifying_details

- Required foundation height: 15–18 inches above grade (task force/staff condition).
- Porch depth: minimum 6 feet behind porch columns.
- Porch column spacing: four columns to be equally spaced across the porch gable.

Proper_names

[{"name":"Wheatley Place Historic District","type":"location"}]

Community_relevance

- Geographies: Wheatley Place neighborhood
- Impact groups: future residents, adjacent property owners

Meeting_context

- Engagement_level: moderate (one registered speaker, staff presentation)
- Implementation_risk: low (conditions are mostly design details)

Searchable_tags

["3627 Havana","Wheatley Place","new construction","certificate of appropriateness"]

Salience

{"overall":0.45,"overall_justification":"Typical new construction approval within a historic district, notable for design conditions affecting neighborhood character.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Affects immediate block and streetscape.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Commissioners discussed multiple design details.","novelty":0.2,"novelty_justification":"Routine new construction review with customary conditions.","timeliness_urgency":0.3,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Applicant requested timely review to proceed with construction.","legal_significance":0.2,"legal_significance_justification":"Typical CA standards apply.","budgetary_significance":0.05,"budgetary_significance_justification":"Private construction; not a public expenditure.","public_safety_risk":0.05}

sections

{"lede":"The Landmark Commission approved a new single‑family house and rear carport at 3627 Havana Street on May 5, but required adjustments to porch depth, foundation height and detailing to match neighborhood character.","nut_graf":"Staff and the task force recommended approval subject to conditions; commissioners focused on porch proportions, foundation height, and alignment of cheek walls and columns and asked the applicant to show final elevations that meet those conditions.","ending":"Staff will verify final drawings for porch depth, foundation height, column and wing‑wall alignment and other details before issuing the Certificate of Appropriateness."}