2024 Preservation Awards | 1407 Gladden Street
Thursday, May 16th 2024
WINNER | Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (residential/single family)
1407 Gladden Street
Kandie Wright / She Shed LLC — Property Owner
Firehouse Renovations — Contractor
Palmetto Home Designs — Architectural Planner
Virginia native and long-time Melrose Heights resident Kandie Wright is no stranger to sensitive rehabilitations of historic properties. Previous efforts at two other neighborhood properties, including a rare Airplane Bungalow and the Prairie Style residence originally owned by the Powell family, have garnered accolades and been a source of community pride.
Listed in 1935 as a “brand new 6 room bungalow [with] eastern exposure,” 1407 Gladden Street features both a one-story Tudor Revival cottage and a two-story garage apartment that are contributing buildings in the Melrose Heights-Oaklawn Architectural Conservation District and the Melrose Heights-Oak Lawn-Fairview National Register District. Only three people have owned this Craftsman-style home situated in the heart of the Melrose Heights neighborhood. It served as a rental property for several decades following the death of the original owner, and tax records indicate the house was last remodeled in 1950. Appreciating the potential the home possessed, Kandie enlisted the services of home designer Tonya Curtis and contractor Scott Fulkerson.
Historic features were preserved and modern conveniences were added, enlarging the house to feature a primary suite, additional bathroom, and dedicated laundry room as a rear addition. The house received all new systems—electrical, plumbing, HVAC—and insulation. Wood trim was specially milled for the addition to match the original trim. Gables on the addition were carefully matched to those on the existing building. Extensive rot in the kitchen required the total replacement of all structural members. All original six-over-one light windows were salvaged while new windows for the addition were painstakingly matched to the originals. The original nine-light Prairie Style entry door was restored, as was the original swing garage door. Existing wood floors were restored, and matching wood floors were added in the addition and threaded in as necessary throughout the house. All damaged wood on and in the two-story weatherboard one-car garage was replaced.
The beneficiary of Bailey Bill tax abatement, 1407 Gladden Street is now ready for new generations of Historic Melrose Heights residents to call home.
Before & After
Images courtesy Kandie Wright.
Before, During, & After
Explore the
Economic Impact Study
This study's findings reinforce our long-held position on the importance of historic preservation for the city's economy and support our work advocating for policies that encourage preservation and the reuse of historic buildings. Columbia’s architectural heritage is not simply an exercise in nostalgia; it is an informed, strategic investment in the future.
