Commission approves certificate of appropriateness and recommends nonrenewal of Mills Act contract for 621 Waller Street

The Historic Preservation Commission on July 20 approved a certificate of appropriateness for work at 621 Waller Street and voted to recommend nonrenewal of the property’s Mills Act historic property contract to the Board of Supervisors.

Planning staff explained that much of the rehabilitation work listed under the Mills Act contract was performed without permits and that several rehabilitation scope items remained outstanding. Michelle Taylor told commissioners a Mills Act contract “is a 10 year rolling contract” that renews annually and that placing a contract into nonrenewal limits it to a 10‑year wind‑down; she contrasted that with cancellation, a punitive option that carries a 12.5% penalty on assessed value.

The project sponsor’s architect, Alyssa Skaggs of Page & Turnbull, described repairs including reconstruction of front stairs and railings, replacement-in-kind of decorative metal, roof replacement and removal of two skylights visible from the street; the sponsor agreed to remove the two street-visible skylights and to pursue permit issuance and required follow-up reporting.

During discussion commissioners examined the record for permits and enforcement: staff said permits were filed in 2013 and 2017, and that enforcement action opened in 2020 after unpermitted work was discovered. The property owner, Claude, called in and acknowledged earlier noncompliance and said he and his wife have undertaken structural upgrades and preservation work inside the house.

After debate, the commission voted to approve the certificate of appropriateness with conditions and adopt staff findings recommending nonrenewal of the Mills Act contract. Commissioner Wright had been recused earlier from items 7A and 7B; the consolidated motion passed 5–0.