Kisners Face Design Review Board Challenges in Aiken Home Building Journey

Challenges for the Kisners: A Historic Home Journey in Aiken

Aiken has always been a city rich in history and charm, and this magic extends even to the plans of professional golfer Kevin Kisner and his wife, Brittany. The couple is excited to build a new family home downtown, but they’re hitting some bumps in the road with the Aiken Design Review Board that’s making the whole process trickier than expected.

Building Dreams in Historic Homes

Earlier this year, the Kisners made an agreement to purchase a unique property located near 525 Laurens St. S.W.. “We love the community of Aiken,” Brittany happily stated on Dec. 3. “We value its history and the beautiful Hitchcock Woods. Living in the historic district has been a blessing for us.” Their plan? To build a stunning home where they can create beautiful memories as a family.

To understand the couple’s vision, you need to know a bit about the property itself. The current owners, Tara and Charlie Bostwick, have always appreciated like-minded neighbors in their picturesque, historic community. “It’s only been the Hitchcocks, the Bostwicks, and now the Kisners here,” shared Tara. “We’re excited about the idea of Brittany and Kevin raising their kids on this property, just as we have.”

Delays and Design Review Board Hurdles

However, there’s a twist in the tale. Before they can start building, the Kisners must go through the Design Review Board to get their plans approved. This includes submitting two applications: one for the new home and another for renovations to some old barns on the property. Unfortunately, they haven’t yet submitted the home application, and their renovation plans have faced a series of unfortunate delays.

This saga began back in June when the Kisners handed in their application for the barns. The board’s consideration got postponed several times due to various meetings and events, including election-related scheduling conflicts. The latest board meeting on Nov. 14 didn’t bring any more clarity, either.

Community Concerns about Historic Preservation

Adding to the complications, the barns in question—known as the Hitchcock Stables—carry a notable historic significance in Aiken’s heritage. Community leader Lucy Knowles pointed out that these stables were central to the Winter Colony’s equestrian traditions—something the community holds dear. Understandably, some locals are concerned about the potential for significant alterations or demolitions that could threaten this heritage.

Knowles expressed her worries in a letter to the board, indicating that the current engineering report from the Kisners doesn’t make a solid case for why rehabilitating the stables isn’t feasible. “The engineering report outlines some issues but fails to prove that stabilizing the structure is impossible,” she emphasized.

In response, the Kisners’ engineer Josh Stewart weighed in with his own findings, indicating the stables aren’t in great shape. Several parts of the barns are collapsing, and he warned that continued deterioration could lead to a complete failure of the structures if not addressed soon. “The stability issues stem from the clay soil it sits on, which makes repairing the foundation nearly impossible,” he explained.

Uncertainties Ahead

Brittany and Kevin are determined to preserve what they can of the original barns. An architect working with the Kisners, Jeffrey Burden, stated that they’ve carefully planned their renovations following federal guidelines to ensure that restoration maintains the character of the stables.

To add to the drama, the Design Review Board is also handling a new application to change the stables’ designation to landmark status. However, this could stall the Kisners’ plans further because this application must be decided before they can move forward—complicating the entire process. “We just need to see how they rule on the landmark status and what other options we have going forward,” Brittany said, with a hint of frustration.

The Community Weighs In

One thing is clear: Aiken’s residents care about preserving their heritage while also welcoming new families into the community. The Kisners are eager to share their vision and embrace the local charm, but they also need the community’s support. Dec. 5 marks another crucial milestone for them as the Design Review Board meets once more to discuss the historic designation and the Kisners’ plans.

As this story unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between preserving history and making way for new chapters in a community’s story. Let’s stay tuned to see how this journey develops for the Kisners amidst Aiken’s fascinating backdrop.