The Board of Architecture Review on Oct. 15 denied a Certificate of Appropriateness for the retention of vinyl replacement windows at 329 Dantzler Court, finding the installation inconsistent with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) design guidelines for historic districts.

Staff presented photos from listing sites and said the original windows were 2-over-2 wood sashes and that the replacements removed that historic profile. Staff recommended disapproval, citing LFUCG guidelines 1.24(b) and 1.24(c), which advise repair of original windows or replacement in-kind, and state that vinyl or vinyl-clad windows are not allowed.

The homeowners told the board they purchased the house earlier in 2025 and said they were not informed by the seller or realtor that the property was within an H1 historic overlay. One homeowner said the windows and other issues prompted replacement; the owner acknowledged they did not apply for a COA because they were unaware of the district designation.

Board members noted previous similar cases and advised the homeowners to contact the Kentucky Real Estate Commission or file a complaint with the realtor’s board if the realtor failed to disclose the overlay. The chair also advised the homeowners to keep staff informed about plans and suggested replacing windows incrementally if cost is an issue. The board made a motion to deny the COA; the motion passed and the applicant was told the vinyl windows must be replaced with appropriate wood windows approved through the COA process.

Why this matters: The ruling reinforces the LFUCG design guidelines’ prohibition on vinyl windows in historic overlays and underscores the responsibility of buyers, realtors and contractors to verify historic district status before making alterations.