2954 - 56 PONCE DE LEON STREET
ESPLANADE RIDGE HISTORIC DISTRICT
THIS DUPLEX APARTMENT WAS PURCHASED AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1921 AND SHARES A LOT WITH 1520-22 SAUVAGE STREET, WHICH IS ANOTHER RENOVATION THAT HISTORIC INVESTMENTS UNDERTOOK FOLLOWING THE STORM. HURRICANE KATRINA'S WINDS BLEW OUT THE REAR WALL OF THE HOUSE, WHICH HAD BEEN INFESTED WITH TERMITES. INSPECTION CREWS TAGGED THE HOUSE AS A STRUCTURAL HAZARD IN NEED OF DEMOLITION. SINCE THE HOUSE IS IN THE ESPLANADE RIDGE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE DECIDED TO RENOVATE INSTEAD OF RAZING THE HOUSE. WE USED THE INCENTIVES FROM THE HISTORIC RESTORATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM TO FULLY RENOVATE THE STRUCTURE TO NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE HISTORIC REHABILITATION STANDARDS. FOLLOWING ARE ORIGINAL PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR.
ALTHOUGH THE RENOVATION WAS COSTLY, WE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR STUDS AND SOME OF THE REAR FLOOR JOISTS, WE SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STRUCTURE, WHILE MAKING IT COMPLETELY MODERN AND ENERGY EFFICIENT INSIDE. SINCE WE HAD TO FULLY REMOVE THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE, WE WERE ABLE TO LOWER THE CEILINGS TO 9' AND ADD TWO BEDROOMS AND A FULL BATH IN THE ATTIC. THE 1500 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING NOW HAS A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT AT 2954 AND A THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT AT 2956. FOLLOWING ARE POST RENOVATION PICTURES.
