816 Rhode Island Street

816 Rhode Island Street

This one-story gable-front and wing national folk residence, a contributing property in the North Rhode Island Street Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, is doing just fine these days after decades of being down on its luck. Built in 1867, it already had lost its original front porch by the time the district was designated in 2004, and any repairs made in the time since were of the “make-do” variety. Most repair needs simply went unmet.

By 2021 a new owner proposed to demolish the structure and replace it with new construction. When the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) denied that application, the property was sold again, this time to Chris Cunningham, one of the principals in CT Design + Development. While this firm is relatively new, its partners have years of experience in Lawrence.

The property presented a difficult set of design issues because the historic structure, in addition to being in very rough shape, was so small that building an addition that could not be seen from the public right of way—an important goal for any addition to a listed property—would leave the builder with an addition too small for it to be a feasible project.

Chris’ initial design featured a modern two-story addition at the rear of the house that would use floor-to-ceiling glass on the east and west facades of the portion that extended beyond the existing structure and thus would be completely in view from the street. The glass look, desirable in modern design, would also make the addition less imposing to the historic structure from the street view than a solid wall construction would. It was enough to interest the HRC, and with one further adjustment on that portion of the addition—changing the second level to an outdoor deck with a fireplace—the project won HRC approval.

COURTESY OF CHRIS CUNNINGHAM

Cunningham partnered with Landon Harness (Form & Function)—a previous PIP winner—to bring the project to life. For the old structure, “straightening, leveling, and making it ready to stand for another 150 years was certainly an undertaking,” he says. The speculative nature of the project was vindicated when, two months before completion, it went under contract to a new owner excited to move in.

Just one year ago, 816 Rhode Island was a historic property nearing its end with seemingly nowhere to go but down. LPA congratulates the entire project team for finding a way to save this National Register historic property.