The Landmarks Preservation Commission decided to allow the demolition of the remaining façade and proceed with replicating the house at 105 Clarendon Avenue.
The protected house was suffering from decaying wood frame walls, termite infestation and extensive water damage, which made preservation impossible, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
Project architect Harold Smith and structural engineer Albert Gargiulo will now construct a “true replica.”
“We are trying to work within the constraints of a decaying structure,” Gargiulo said. “I recommend using new, reinforced interior masonry, resting on a new foundation.”
The original 1926 house was designed by Marion Sims Wyeth and designated a landmark in 1990. [Palm Beach Daily News] –Christopher Cameron