Monarch Property Co.; Telegraph Road Properties, LLC; Tightlines Designs; Saebert Construction, LLC

For the Residential Rehabilitation of 217 East South Street, Raleigh

 

The East Raleigh/South Park National Register Historic District is the largest historically African American neighborhood in Raleigh; and, one of the largest and most historic, relatively intact urban African American residential and cultural concentrations in North Carolina. African Americans moved into Raleigh in increasing numbers after the Civil War; and, many were attracted to the southeastern part of Raleigh for its association with prominent African American institutions located there. Initially, many African Americans rented small houses built on newly subdivided land sold by cash-poor white families. Soon, as opportunities – particularly in the realm of education – expanded for African Americans and the middle class grew, houses became more fashionable, were built in popular styles and were more often owned by residents. Today, the neighborhood features the whole gamut of side-gabled houses, front-gabled houses, triple A cottages, and shotgun houses.

A rare example of a single-bay Victorian shotgun frame house built pre-1900 – located within the boundary of Raleigh’s Prince Hall Local Historic District as well as the East Raleigh/South Park National Register Historic District – the house located at 217 E. South Street was in utter disrepair, almost to the point of no return. The front door, windows, and porch had been replaced with inferior materials, and the siding consisted of particle board. The home had been previously stripped of most of its significant, character defining elements and had been pieced back together over the past few decades. Long owned by the Irving Family, Telegraph Road Properties, LLC acquired the house in June 2014. After several months of research and consultation with Monarch Property Co., and with final approval from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission in-hand, Saebert Construction began to peel back the layers and rehabilitated the home in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Where needed, new appropriate materials that fit the character of the district and the architectural time period of the house were designed and installed. The restoration took almost 18 months and included lifting the home to rebuild portions of the foundation as well as to dig out a crawl space. A great example of a shotgun house, 217 E. South Street is an outstanding example of a small home that lives large. The project has breathed new life into the neighborhood as a whole and stands as a model for similar private revitalization efforts in Raleigh and across the country.

The Board of Directors of Capital Area Preservation, Inc. is pleased to present a 2016 Anthemion Award to Monarch Property Co.; Telegraph Road Properties, LLC; Tightlines Designs; Saebert Construction, LLC for the Residential Rehabilitation of 217 East South Street, Raleigh.