Washington’s Historic Preservation Commission, during its meeting tonight, will consider a request by Beaufort County to change the exterior appearances of two buildings the county owns in downtown Washington.

The county is seeking a certificate of appropriateness to remove three chimney stacks and the terracotta parapet flashing from the building at 132 N. Market St. That building once housed the county jail, and later it housed the Beaufort County Board of Elections. Currently, it houses a unit of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office.

The county also wants to remove the remaining terracotta parapet flashing on the building at 111 W. Second St., which currently houses offices of the district attorney for the 2^nd Judicial District. It formerly housed agricultural offices and some county offices. It is know as the courthouse annex.

The county wants to make improvements to the two buildings, including removing any roofing materials that contain asbestos and installing a new roof on the old jail and courthouse annex. The county plans to install a watertight system for both buildings, according to the COA request submitted by the county to the commission.

The county’s request could be denied.

“Based on findings of fact, the request is not congruous with the Design Guidelines,” reads a staff reports submitted to the commission. However, the commission has final say on the request.

The commission’s design guidelines as they pertain to roofing include the following:

• Retain and preserve historic roofs and roofing materials including its overall design, shape, pitch and line;
• Character-defining elements of historic roofs should be retained and preserved including dormer windows, chimneys, turrets, cupolas and parapet walls. Eave overhangs; moldings and trim and soffit boards also should be retained and preserved;
• Roofs on historic structures are often characterized by their historic material including clay tiles, slate or wood shingles and metal. These materials should be retained and preserved, whenever economically feasible.