‘Out of Time’ movie scene helps Preservation Board decision on store

A group of routine house elevations easily passed the Boca Grande Preservation Board at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 12, but it was a movie still from the 2003 Boca Grande movie “Out of Time” that helped sway the decision in a storefront renovation.

The first case was the Jenkins residence at 331 Tarpon Ave. The plans included extensive renovations to the property as well as elevating the house. The project was approved.

The second case was the elevation of two properties at 255 Whiskey Row, adding a porch between the two. They are being elevated five feet to bring them above FEMA flood levels. “It’s proper to preserve the house through elevating it,” said Peter Blackwell, Preservation Board planner. Neighbor Bruce Kenan spoke in support. “I do think raising buildings to that level in this area would be a very good thing to do.” The project was also approved.

The third case was the enclosure of a porch at Journey’s End at 1801 18th St. W. The house dates from 1914 and is one of the oldest on the island. The porch is already enclosed by screens. The board approved the project unanimously. “I would like to thank Mr. Sculley for his perseverance in preserving Journey’s End,” said board member Jerry Edgerton.

The only contested case was 370 Park Ave. Planner Mary Sue Groth presented a staff report, which was a rebuild of the façade and interior improvements at the storefront. The building, the old Smart Studio, is vacant. Staff only had a 1980 photo to decide on the history of the building. Its chief features were an odd asymmetrical door and window, curved awnings and awkward window “eye” treatments of 1980s cedar shake.

The staff recommended that the board deny the renovation, as it did not meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which encourage the preservation of elements that show the evolution of the building, however recent.

After the presentation, those individual features of the building came up for discussion.

“How do you reconcile those silly little eyebrows over the windows?” asked member Dennis Maloomian. Groth said they did not have a record of when they were added. Maloomian asked if they were “sacred or not.” They were not in the 1980s photo, so they were not.

The issue of the asymmetry of the front was also an issue, as there was no prior evidence. Chair Bill Caldwell commented that he felt the window and door were added later, “an easier way out.”

“If they had had a good architect, they probably would have made it symmetrical,” Caldwell said.

Architect Tom Hinkle came forward to discuss his plans. He explained that rebuilding the deteriorated façade came after they realized they needed to floodproof it. “We were looking at the front wall, which is basically a combination of unreinforced brick and terra cotta block,” Hinkle said. 

He looked at other early commercial buildings for a precedent, including the historic J.McLauglin building next door, as they decided what to do. “Even back in the ‘20s, things would typically be centered,” said Hinkle, who wished to “balance it out pretty much like the building to the south.”

The removal of the posts on the awning was a practical matter. “It’s just annoying trying to park around those posts,” Hinkle said. “And I know the building to the south had a canopy that has been since removed.”

To prove his point, Hinkle pulled out a series of screen shots from the 2004 movie “Out of Time.” There was a scene with Denzel Washington and Eva Mendes on the street filmed in downtown Boca Grande.

“I have been trying to do a lot of research on this,” said Hinkle as he showed the printouts. “That’s the canopy that they took out [on the Post Office]. Our building is right there. That’s Denzel Washington, by the way. I saw the precedent that possibly the canopy can be taken out.”

“So that was the thought there,” Hinkle said. “Simple it up.”

Hinkle did not know where the wood shake eyebrows came from. “I think it was some ‘70s dream,” said Hinckle. “I just don’t think that originally was there.

Vice Chair Peggy Stanley was concerned. “We only have the information that we have,” Stanley said. “It’s quirky, it’s not my favorite look of the building, but it is what it is. It kind of leaves us out on a limb to make our own rules when we think something is more attractive.”

The board agreed on the wooden eyebrows.

“The eyebrows weren’t there in 1980,” Stanley said. “The eyebrows are just scary.”

Caldwell replied that he did not classify this as any jewel to save and looked for precedent in the building next door. “You need to be consistent with what’s happening in the neighborhood,” said Caldwell. “If it matches it, it’s historic too.

The committee voted 4-1 for approval, as presented.

After the meeting, Groth said staff had discussed the asymmetry and ugliness of the current condition, but they felt since they had no evidence for the building’s original state, they had to present the case as they saw it, for precedent’s state.