Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Regretfully, I am not able to attend [today's] Historical Architectural Review Commission meeting, where my colleagues intend to discuss white roofs -- the most recent onslaught of energy conservation issues that continue to chip away at the architectural character of Key West's historic district. These concerns are particularly ironic because most of the island's elegant, antique structures were originally built to "breathe," which was, and arguably still is, the most environmentally correct way to maximize airflow for comfortable living in the tropical climate. Just open the double-hung windows; turn on the ceiling fans and let air circulate naturally through scuttles and beneath covered porches. Architectural features such as these designed for venting are just part of the history HARC is charged with protecting.

And protecting the district is HARC's job. As noted in the preface to its guidelines, HARC is supposed to preserve "the character and appearance of the historic zoning districts of the city, as well as buildings, structures and properties listed in the local and national registers of historic places; and buildings, structures, archeological sites, or districts classified as 'contributing' or 'contributing but altered' on the City Historic Preservation Survey is a public purpose benefiting the educational, cultural and economic welfare of the citizens of Key West."

While I believe HARC commissioners need to be in touch with the mayor and city commissioners to help them understand the challenge of upgrading historic buildings with contemporary and convenient amenities, it is not HARC's place to set conservation policy.

If and when our elected politicians determine which energy regulations they must support, only then should HARC address how and where new products and amenities, such as white metal roofs and/or painted-white roofs, high-impact windows, solar panels and whatever innovation comes next may fit into the United States' largest historic district of wood frame buildings.

All new products and amenities definitely change the character and appearance of the historic zoning districts. For instance, the most recent environmentally correct product, white roofs, seems to be benign because paint is not permanent. But poorly maintained metal roofs that have been painted white and allowed to fleck and flake will certainly make a statement. Should we only consider pre-made, white metal roofing, which is not an inexpensive alternative to paint?

Saving money while saving the planet seems to be the primary reason this issue has come before HARC. But what about saving the historic district -- very probably the biggest attraction to Key West that fuels our tourist economy? Would it not be better to have policymakers insist that insulation beneath the roof or in the attic be mandatory instead of resurfacing historic rooflines?

My guess is that insulation is cheaper than a new metal roof, plus it's a solution that saves money, the planet and the historic buildings. Furthermore, attic insulation is actually invisible, which is the mantra HARC often hears from property owners who want to install contemporary, high-impact windows and other energy-saving devices not seen from the street.

A number of Key West residents have contacted me about the good, the bad and the ugliness of white roofs. Kurt Lewin at First State Bank and a Key West native son notes that white roofs will dynamically change the appearance of Old Town. But more importantly, if roofs go white, then high-impact aluminum windows also must be standard fare, and then one day visitors to Key West will leave the island wondering what was historic about it.

Even today, few visitors make notes about putty-glazed windows, a block-long culture of 2.5-story houses or silver, tin shingles on roofs. When these currently protected features are gone, though, people will take notice; they will understand that something is amiss, although they may not know exactly what it is.

The loss will be history, of course, something much grander than the individual architectural parts that disappeared over time, one window at a time.

Shifting the exterior look of historic buildings to accommodate energy conservation is a big deal; if HARC decides to favor white roofs, this becomes a precedent-setting change with historical as well as economic ramifications for the people who visit and live here. It's never been cheap to live in Key West, and very few issues that create exceptions to the HARC guidelines have been easy to resolve.

This is why I urge the HARC commissioners to think beyond mainstream trends, avoid knee-jerk reactions and tread lightly until elected officials determine conservation policies that reduce our carbon footprint by:

1. Focusing on commercial buildings that use 70 percent of the electrical energy in Key West;

2. Fine Duval Street businesses that leave doors open while AC is turned on; and

3. Find residential solutions that save the planet as well as the historic district.

Barbara Bowers is chairman of the Key West Historical Architectural Review Commission, and writes feature stories for the Sunday Homes section of The Citizen.