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Proposed Approval of Addition to House
Green Springs National Historic Landmark District » Proposed Approval of Addition to House » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) invites review of and comment on its proposed determination of No Adverse Effect to Historic Properties by (and thus its proposed approval of) a project that is planned and would be funded and implemented by the owners of a property in the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, Louisa County, Virginia: installation of a two-story addition, which would house a second-story bedroom suite and a first-story storage area for lawn equipment, to the rear (north) façade of the existing dwelling at Mill View Farm.
The addition, which would feature a chimney at its north end, would measure 35' 11" x 22' 10" in area and 31' 5" in height (grade to chimney top). A two-story passage measuring 6' 11" x 11' 8" would connect the addition to the most recent component (a 2006 addition) of the existing Mill View house. The proposed addition, including the passage, would be clad in brick on the first-floor exterior to match the brick on the first-floor of the adjoining portion of the existing house, and, on the second-floor exterior of the proposed addition, in vertical, wood siding painted white to match that of the wood siding of the existing house. Installation of the foundation of the proposed addition, including of the chimney, would entail excavation of up to 4' in depth and 5' in width, and, for the passage, excavation of up to 12' in depth and 10' in width (since the passage would partly occupy the present site of a vegetated mound of earth excavated for the construction of the 2006 addition). An area of 10' x 15' and adjoining half the length of the proposed addition on its west side would be graded to allow access by lawnmowers and other lawn equipment to the first-story garage door on the proposed addition there. (However, the addition would not necessitate any roads; driveways or driveway extensions; or paving.)
For further details, see the information packet, "Proposed Addition to Dwelling, Green Springs NHLD" in the Document List, at upper left on this webpage. The information packet includes a location map, a map of the Area of Potential Effect (APE), annotated site-photos, and measured drawings.
Basis of Review
The NPS reviews the owner's plan (the review constituting the federal undertaking) under the terms of an NPS-held conservation easement created and conveyed through deed of easement in 1973 and deed of assignment in 1978. As a federal agency, NPS reaches the decisions for prior, written approval, required by this and other conservation easements, under the terms of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, and National Environmental Policy Act. The NPS review is limited to the scope and terms of the easement and does not also imply or address any additional reviews, requirements, or restrictions of Louisa County or other authorities, such as those of the county Code of Ordinances.
NPS has requested concurrence by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Officer to expedite this review by combining, per 36 CFR 800.3(g), the steps of: Initiation of Consultation; Identification of Historic Properties; and Assessment of Adverse Effects.
Area of Potential Effect (green polygon on map in information packet): The area of potential effect is composed of the Mill View House, the footprint of the proposed addition, and the surrounding area from which those are/might be visible.
Identification of Historic Properties
The National Register of Historic Places nomination (1973) for the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District includes the Mill View house among 34 other farmsteads with contributing status to the Landmark District. Specifically for the house, the National Register states that the original, 18th-century component at the south (front) facade "was later enlarged by the construction of several wings including a two-story addition abutting one side, and the interior has been largely altered."
Preservation- and Resource-Avoidance Planning
1. To minimize the visibility of the proposed addition, it would:
-be added to the rear of the existing Mill View house, and to the rear of that part of that is itself an addition (2006).
-occupy a large depression left from the installation of an in-ground, concrete pool (now removed) in the 1990s and by additions to the dwelling in c. 1985 and 2006.
-be situated to the immediate east of an orchard that was planted in the 1990's and would be left in place.
-measure to its roof-peak a height that is the same as for the roof peak of the 2006 addition to the house and lower than the roof peaks of the c. 1850 and c. 1985 additions.
-bear the same colors and materials (wood painted white on second story, brick where first/cellar story is exposed, and on chimney) as on the exterior as on the existing house, and following changes—from stone to brick, and from board-and-batten to no-batten—by the owners during their initial planning for the proposed addition.
-bear vertical wood-siding, rather than horizontal, to differentiate the proposed addition—as "new work" of the sort referenced in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation—from the existing house.
2. To avoid disturbing any ground not disturbed previously—during grading, construction, and installation of utilities for a c. 1995 concrete, in-ground swimming pool (removed) and the additions to the house in c. 1985 and 2006—the proposed addition would be built within the footprint of the construction of those recent features and structures.
3. To avoid physical effects to historic structures, the proposed addition would physically connect to only that part of the existing Mill View House that is itself an addition from 2006.
Recommendations/Evaluations by NPS Section 106/National Historic Preservation Act Advisers
1. Historic Architecture: No Adverse Effect—"The addition to the proposed residence is in keeping with the organic development of the building over time. Furthermore, the addition does not detract from the older portions of the building allowing the original design intent, regarding orientation, to be clearly read. Use of brick for a foundation material is in keeping with other buildings in the nearby vicinity and helps maintain the overall design integrity of the building."
2. Historical Landscape Architect: No Adverse Effect—"an addition to an addition"
3. Archeology: No Adverse Effect—"addition is located in an area that has been heavily disturbed by the more recent additions to the structure (2006), utility runs, and the installation and later removal (1990s) of an in-ground swimming pool. The potential to impact intact significant archaeological resources is low and investigations prior to construction are not needed."
Comment may be offered via the telephone-number given below, or by clicking the "Document List" link at upper left, then clicking on the document itself.
National Park Service
Manager of Easements
Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, George Washington's Boyhood Home National Historic Landmark
540-424-0512
The addition, which would feature a chimney at its north end, would measure 35' 11" x 22' 10" in area and 31' 5" in height (grade to chimney top). A two-story passage measuring 6' 11" x 11' 8" would connect the addition to the most recent component (a 2006 addition) of the existing Mill View house. The proposed addition, including the passage, would be clad in brick on the first-floor exterior to match the brick on the first-floor of the adjoining portion of the existing house, and, on the second-floor exterior of the proposed addition, in vertical, wood siding painted white to match that of the wood siding of the existing house. Installation of the foundation of the proposed addition, including of the chimney, would entail excavation of up to 4' in depth and 5' in width, and, for the passage, excavation of up to 12' in depth and 10' in width (since the passage would partly occupy the present site of a vegetated mound of earth excavated for the construction of the 2006 addition). An area of 10' x 15' and adjoining half the length of the proposed addition on its west side would be graded to allow access by lawnmowers and other lawn equipment to the first-story garage door on the proposed addition there. (However, the addition would not necessitate any roads; driveways or driveway extensions; or paving.)
For further details, see the information packet, "Proposed Addition to Dwelling, Green Springs NHLD" in the Document List, at upper left on this webpage. The information packet includes a location map, a map of the Area of Potential Effect (APE), annotated site-photos, and measured drawings.
Basis of Review
The NPS reviews the owner's plan (the review constituting the federal undertaking) under the terms of an NPS-held conservation easement created and conveyed through deed of easement in 1973 and deed of assignment in 1978. As a federal agency, NPS reaches the decisions for prior, written approval, required by this and other conservation easements, under the terms of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, and National Environmental Policy Act. The NPS review is limited to the scope and terms of the easement and does not also imply or address any additional reviews, requirements, or restrictions of Louisa County or other authorities, such as those of the county Code of Ordinances.
NPS has requested concurrence by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Officer to expedite this review by combining, per 36 CFR 800.3(g), the steps of: Initiation of Consultation; Identification of Historic Properties; and Assessment of Adverse Effects.
Area of Potential Effect (green polygon on map in information packet): The area of potential effect is composed of the Mill View House, the footprint of the proposed addition, and the surrounding area from which those are/might be visible.
Identification of Historic Properties
The National Register of Historic Places nomination (1973) for the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District includes the Mill View house among 34 other farmsteads with contributing status to the Landmark District. Specifically for the house, the National Register states that the original, 18th-century component at the south (front) facade "was later enlarged by the construction of several wings including a two-story addition abutting one side, and the interior has been largely altered."
Preservation- and Resource-Avoidance Planning
1. To minimize the visibility of the proposed addition, it would:
-be added to the rear of the existing Mill View house, and to the rear of that part of that is itself an addition (2006).
-occupy a large depression left from the installation of an in-ground, concrete pool (now removed) in the 1990s and by additions to the dwelling in c. 1985 and 2006.
-be situated to the immediate east of an orchard that was planted in the 1990's and would be left in place.
-measure to its roof-peak a height that is the same as for the roof peak of the 2006 addition to the house and lower than the roof peaks of the c. 1850 and c. 1985 additions.
-bear the same colors and materials (wood painted white on second story, brick where first/cellar story is exposed, and on chimney) as on the exterior as on the existing house, and following changes—from stone to brick, and from board-and-batten to no-batten—by the owners during their initial planning for the proposed addition.
-bear vertical wood-siding, rather than horizontal, to differentiate the proposed addition—as "new work" of the sort referenced in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation—from the existing house.
2. To avoid disturbing any ground not disturbed previously—during grading, construction, and installation of utilities for a c. 1995 concrete, in-ground swimming pool (removed) and the additions to the house in c. 1985 and 2006—the proposed addition would be built within the footprint of the construction of those recent features and structures.
3. To avoid physical effects to historic structures, the proposed addition would physically connect to only that part of the existing Mill View House that is itself an addition from 2006.
Recommendations/Evaluations by NPS Section 106/National Historic Preservation Act Advisers
1. Historic Architecture: No Adverse Effect—"The addition to the proposed residence is in keeping with the organic development of the building over time. Furthermore, the addition does not detract from the older portions of the building allowing the original design intent, regarding orientation, to be clearly read. Use of brick for a foundation material is in keeping with other buildings in the nearby vicinity and helps maintain the overall design integrity of the building."
2. Historical Landscape Architect: No Adverse Effect—"an addition to an addition"
3. Archeology: No Adverse Effect—"addition is located in an area that has been heavily disturbed by the more recent additions to the structure (2006), utility runs, and the installation and later removal (1990s) of an in-ground swimming pool. The potential to impact intact significant archaeological resources is low and investigations prior to construction are not needed."
Comment may be offered via the telephone-number given below, or by clicking the "Document List" link at upper left, then clicking on the document itself.
Contact Information
Noel HarrisonNational Park Service
Manager of Easements
Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, George Washington's Boyhood Home National Historic Landmark
540-424-0512