Improvements to a historic building on Water Street are planned or under way, joining a growing list of similar improvements and construction of new structures.

Herman Gaskins is seeking a certificate of appropriateness from the Washington Historic Preservation Commission to replace the roofing material on his law office at 214 E. Water St. The office is in a historic home in the city’s historic district.

During its meeting Tuesday, the commission tabled Gaskin’s request until its March meeting so it can further explore roofing-material options for the Myers house. Gaskins told the commission his research show the house is the oldest surviving structure in the city and the second-oldest surviving structure in Beaufort County after the Palmer-Marsh house in Bath. Gaskins has replaced the house’s deteriorating wood and windows. It’s being painted, too. Gaskins said the elements are recent hurricanes have not been kind to the house and its cedar-shakes roof. “It’s not in good shape,” he said.

Gaskins told the commission he favors composite-material shakes over cedar shakes, but he’s also open to other roofing materials such as asphalt shingles. That’s why he wants the commission’s input on the roof replacement. Commission member Cheri Vaughn indicated her preference for replacing the existing cedar shakes with new cedar shakes so the house would not lose its “historic value.”

Gaskins said he’s more concerned with maintaining that historic value, if possible, and making sure the house looks good than the cost of whatever roofing material is used to replace the existing cedar shakes.

Earlier this year, the commission granted certificates of appropriateness to Charles and Linda Hough to construct a two-story family dwelling at 412 Water St. and demolish the existing garage/storage shed on the northwest corner of the lot. Their application stated the new house would be consistent with others in the area.

At that same meeting, Bill Litchfield was granted a certificate of appropriateness to replace all wooden windows on all elevations of the house at 404 Water St. with vinyl windows. In August, the commission approved replacing siding on the house. Terry Smithwick, with Moss Landing Marina, was granted a certificate of appropriateness to build a wooden, white pergola on the southeast corner of the lot at 227 Water St., erect a 4-foot black or bronze aluminum fence and gate along the south and southeast property line and install a sign in the northwest corner of the lot.

A pergola is an archway in a park or garden usually covered with climbing plants.

During its August 2016 meeting, the commission approved two requests — one by A.L. “Al” Crisp and the other by Franklin D. Johnson Jr. — to build new residences on the street. Crisp plans to build a new two-story family dwelling at 416 Water St. Johnson plans to build a new one-and-a-half story residential structure at 406 Water St.

In other business, the commission approved requests to replace windows on the second and third floors of the Main Street elevation on the building at 192 W. Main St., to remove two trees from the eastern side of the property at 514 E. Main St. and to install an awning, shutters and a permanent flower box on the property at 208/210 W. Main St. The commission also approved concrete paving of the driveway at 222 E. Second St. Some commission members indicated they would prefer an option to concrete that had less impervious surface — such as pavers with open areas — that would allow stormwater runoff to drain into the soil.