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Poughkeepsie commission tables door-replacement request for 13 Dwight Street
Summary
The Poughkeepsie City Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission on April 10 tabled an application to replace two upper-level doors at 13 Dwight Street after the applicant reported difficulty locating prefabricated doors in the required width; commissioners offered vendor contacts and will revisit the item at the May meeting.
Poughkeepsie City Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission members on April 10 agreed to table an application to replace two upper-level doors at 13 Dwight Street and asked staff to help the applicant pursue custom and local fabrication options.
The commission postponed a decision after the applicant said suppliers contacted so far do not make doors in the 56- to 57-inch width needed for the existing openings, and commissioners offered contractor contacts and a fabricator lead to seek a like-for-like solution consistent with the house’s historic period.
The applicant told the commission that she had contacted 11 companies and received responses from six, but “Nobody’s got 56 or 57 and then I could cut down,” adding that many woodworkers were either uninterested or lacked matching sizes. City Planner Richard Distill said he had a record of the outreach: “I have the correspondence I think of 11 companies she reached out to.”
Commissioners discussed alternatives including custom fabrication, using a composite material that matches the period appearance, or modifying a slightly larger prefabricated door and adding trim to fit. Commissioners pointed to two vendors discussed during the meeting: Crosswood Doors (listed in discussion as a potential supplier) and Adams Architectural Millwork (also referred to as AdamsArch/Adams Woodwork), and several commissioners offered local handyman and woodworker contacts to explore lower-cost bespoke options.
Commissioners emphasized the preference for a “like-for-like” appearance: replacements should match the period style, proportions and light configuration as closely as possible so the doors remain consistent with the house’s historic character. The commission noted cost and availability as legitimate constraints: if custom work is cost-prohibitive or impossible, the applicant and staff should return with clearly defined alternative proposals showing dimensions and style.
Outcome: The commission tabled the application without a formal roll-call vote and placed the item on the agenda for the May meeting (scheduled for May 12). Commissioners said staff would pass vendor information to the applicant and that some commissioners would follow up mid-month if attempts to obtain quotes or responses stall.
Votes at a glance: No formal vote was recorded on the application; the commission agreed to table the item and requested staff follow-up.
What happens next: The applicant will continue outreach to vendors and staff will share contacts gathered at the meeting. The commission will reconsider the application at its May meeting or earlier if sufficient information or vendor quotes are produced beforehand.
