According to Bracken, who has retained an architect to consult on the matter, the blueprints for the renovation show violations of the city's housing code.

"[The architect]found many zoning violations in them; we'd like to keep [the house] with consistent zoning rules....The main issues in this are keeping the historic integrity of the house and them complying with the zoning issues," Bracken said.

Ruge denied that the renovations would involve code violations.

Cambridge has tentatively scheduled a zoning hearing for April 27.

But residents have a fallback plan. Last week, they presented a petition to the Cambridge Historical Commission, asking that they designate the house a protected landmark.

The Commission has accepted the petition, and will hold a hearing of its own on April 6 to weigh its merits.

Ruge maintains that the renovations will restore most of the house to its original condition.

"We rebuilt the gables and dormer windows, we're taking up the linoleum, cleaning and restoring the brass plates," she said. "After James died in 1910, the house had 90 years of other occupants who added their own remodelings."