The Athens‑Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission on Aug. 20 denied a certificate of appropriateness to replace historic wood windows at a property on the northeast corner of Satulah and Yonah avenues (COA 2025‑08‑1676).

Staff recommended denial, citing guidelines that favor retaining and repairing original window sashes when possible. Contractor and presenter John Dowd, who said he repairs and replaces windows professionally, told the commission that the existing sills and frames at the subject openings were significantly deteriorated and that a full‑wood Pella Reserve (no‑clad) window offered a long‑term, warrantied solution. Dowd displayed a sample Pella Reserve unit and argued replacement would better protect the house from water intrusion.

Several members of the public spoke: neighbor Kristen Morales urged the commission to require repair and preservation of the original windows, saying the two remaining original sashes were repairable and valuable as historic fabric. Commissioners debated the technical question—whether the windows were deteriorated beyond repair—and the policy point—how strictly to apply guidelines that generally favor repair over replacement.

One commissioner who inspected the house said the windows appeared salvageable with in‑kind repairs; others said siding and sill condition suggested a full replacement might better preserve the building long term. After a motion that initially sought approval with a trim‑matching condition, another commissioner moved to deny. The motion to deny carried; the transcript records multiple motions and a final vote in favor of denial.

The record shows the applicants had already replaced a number of nonhistoric windows elsewhere on the house and sought to replace the last original openings; the commission’s denial requires the owners to pursue repair or return with more documentation showing the openings are beyond repair if they wish to pursue replacement.