Historic Preservation Advisory Board approves demolition and three rehabilitation projects; board departs from staff recommendation on one

At its Aug. 7 meeting the City of McKinney Historic Preservation Advisory Board approved several agenda items involving demolition and rehabilitation certificates of appropriateness.

The board unanimously approved the consent agenda minutes for the July 3, 2025 meeting and then took action on three individual historic-preservation items.

612 West Virginia St. — demolition approved
Rayna Allom presented a staff report on a request by owners Robert and Kelly Sheriff for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a detached accessory structure described in the application as a carriage house or shed at 612 West Virginia St. The accessory building was shown in staff photos as leaning and exhibiting rot. Staff recommended approval of the demolition. A motion by Board Member Prior Robinson, seconded by Board Member Petkayfic, carried; the board approved the request unanimously.

401 North Bradley St. — rehabilitation approved despite staff conditions
Staff revisited a proposal for rehabilitation at 401 North Bradley St., a circa-1900 folk-Victorian house that the 2023 historic resource survey lists as a medium-priority resource. Rayna Allom summarized the application and said staff recommended approval with conditions, specifically asking the board to remove two large proposed shed dormers from the scope because staff determined the additions would not meet Standards 2, 9 and 10 of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The homeowners’ designer, Mark McReynolds, and the owners appeared and described the property’s severe interior deterioration, the need to rebuild the roof and to create usable second-floor space. During discussion, board members and a public representative said the proposed changes respond to the property’s condition and help preserve the building by enabling long-term occupancy. Board Member Piet Kaisick moved to approve the project as presented; Board Member Kennedy seconded and the motion passed.

609 North Bend St. — rehabilitation approved despite staff recommendation to deny
Rayna Allom presented a certificate of appropriateness request for 609 North Bend St., a circa-1940 national-folk residence the survey lists as low priority. Staff recommended denial based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (staff concluded the proposed two-story and single-story additions and roof-line changes would destroy character-defining materials and were not compatible with the historic massing and scale). The homeowners were not present; Mark McReynolds spoke on their behalf and explained design approaches to make the addition compatible and noted the lot’s depth and proposed screening. After discussion, Board Member Kennedy moved to approve the application; Board Member Petk Isaac seconded and the item was approved.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (minutes of 07/03/2025): Motion to approve; outcome: approved unanimously.
- HP2025-0057 (612 W. Virginia St., demolition): Motion by Prior Robinson; second by Petkayfic; outcome: approved unanimously.
- HP2025-0058 (401 N. Bradley St., rehabilitation): Motion by Piet Kaisick to approve as presented; second by Kennedy; outcome: approved.
- HP2025-0055 (609 N. Bend St., rehabilitation): Motion by Kennedy; second by Petk Isaac; outcome: approved.

Staff and board members stressed different priorities during debate: staff applied the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation in its recommendations and flagged potential noncompliance with Standards 2, 4, 9 and 10; advocates for the applicants emphasized severe existing deterioration and the desire to restore livable, long-term housing for residents. Mark McReynolds, speaking for applicants, described the homes’ interior damage and said one applicant intends to make the property a permanent residence. A board member said, "I think we should support these homeowners that want to come in and restore these homes." (board member comment as stated in the meeting.)

The board adjourned at 6:44 p.m.