Design board approves demolition of vacant 1930 house in Timrod Park district

The Florence City Design Review Board voted to approve demolition of a vacant house at 608 South McQueen Street in the Timrod Park Overlay District after staff and board members said the building was beyond reasonable repair.

Staff described the house as built in 1930, about 2,300 square feet, and vacant for years. Fields Norwood of Norwood Properties said he supports redevelopment and intends to follow proper procedures for subdivision and new construction. Resident Sharon Jack urged the board to "keep the integrity of the historic district" and expressed community opposition to subdivision without careful review.

Board members reviewed photos and said the structure appeared to be in very poor condition; one board member—speaking as an engineer—said from the submitted pictures he did not see any viable path to restoring the house. The board approved demolition with an understanding that any new plans—whether one duplex or two single-family homes—must meet the Timrod Park district's recently adopted, more stringent design standards and, where relevant, obtain variances before the board of zoning appeals.

The approval covers demolition only; future construction requires review and will be checked against the district's design palette and materials standards.