Preservationists grapple with front lawn makeover at Tarrytown Tudor

A proposal to redesign the front lawn of a historic Tarrytown home is receiving some pushback at the city’s Historic Landmark Commission, putting historic design standards for both landscaping and fencing to the test.

The property at 2900 Tarry Trail, built in 1938 by architect Edward C. Gatewood, currently sits atop an open, tree-laden lawn offering an unobstructed view of the stately Tudor home. Neighbors and commissioners argue that the proposed design, which features an array of new plant and shrub landscaping and a 3-foot stone wall, would both distract from the home’s historic appearance and obstruct it from public view.

“I want to commend the owners for the work they’re doing. They are taking beautiful care of the house,” said neighbor and historic preservationist Dealey Herndon at the commission’s Sept. 6 meeting. “Our objection is that it has always been open in the front with a grass lawn, and that is so typical of historic homes, especially in Texas because there wasn’t any water … for this home, which was a ranch house out in the country and probably one of the earliest homes in Tarrytown. We just think it’s over-landscaped and over-designed.”

Tye Jeffery of Dalgleish Construction Company also joined commissioners to speak to the owners’ perspective, noting that nearly $1 million had been invested thus far in window, door and flooring restoration as well as upkeep of the original stone facade. Jeffery said the same commitment to preservation would apply as the design moves forward.

“Our plan for the landscape portion of this job is not only to revitalize the site but also to highlight the significance of this property. The design of the stone wall is inspired by the rubble walls that can still be found all over Texas from houses dating back to the 1900s,” said Jeffery. “I think part of this whole problem is people are taking the term ‘wall’ and making it too literal when it’s more of a partition. We’re talking 3 feet, so it won’t cover much of the house, even sitting in a car.”

Still, commissioners felt the plans warranted further discussion, opting to postpone the case to their next meeting in an 8-0 vote, with Commissioner Carl Larosche abstaining.

“This is a landmarked property, so there are rules we have to follow,” said Commissioner Harmony Grogan. “Design standards clearly state that a new fence or wall has to have a high degree of transparency, and I don’t see any way to argue that a stone wall provides that, even at 3 feet in height. … The other issue is that, as lovely as the stone wall is, it is very much trying to look like it’s always been there. … We need to be able to clearly see that the home is historic and this new wall is new.”

The Gatewood House’s owners will return to the Historic Landmark Commission on Oct. 8. In the meantime, commissioners hope to reach some kind of compromise.

“You’re certainly working through the plans in a way that is very sensitive to the period of time, and on many levels this has been well thought through … so hats off to the owners who are willing to take the time and care not only for the house itself, but to the surrounding grounds,” said Commission Chair Ben Heimsath. “Having this conversation and allowing our expertise and broader perspective of the whole city to enter the dialogue I think is important, so thank you very much and these owners for your patience.”

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Posted In: Preservation, District 10