Commission approves new front porch at 5419 Saint Elmo Avenue, with conditions on footprint and flooring

The Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission approved a proposed front porch for 5419 Saint Elmo Avenue in Saint Elmo but imposed conditions to reduce visible massing and require traditional porch flooring.

Staff and proposal: Planning staff reviewed the evidence, including Sanborn maps that show an historic full‑length porch at earlier dates, and noted the current front porch is not original. Applicant Denise Shaw presented a design that seeks to restore a porch that is compatible with common Saint Elmo porch roof forms; the proposal includes a shallow flat cap detail at the porch roof and vertical skirting.

Commission concerns and conditions: Commissioners discussed porch column widths, railing materials and the presence of a side set of uncovered stairs. Several commissioners supported wood railings and traditional porch treatments but did not object to the applicant’s choice of a metal railing that matches the existing condition. The commission agreed that the uncovered side portion of the porch should be removed and that the porch should have a single set of steps. Commissioners also required wood tongue‑and‑groove porch decking running perpendicular to the facade, consistent with the design guidelines’ porch flooring guidance.

Action and outcome: A motion to approve case HC‑25‑111 as submitted carried with the conditions that the uncovered portion of the porch be removed, the porch have one set of steps, and porch flooring be wood tongue‑and‑groove. Commissioners noted that the porch column size shown in the drawings (6x6 in the submission) is consistent with several district precedents, and staff will verify final column dimensions during permit review.

Next steps: Staff will issue the COA and the applicant will pursue the building permit; the commission asked staff to confirm porch details during permit review to ensure the new porch is consistent with Saint Elmo porch precedents.