Hudson commission approves restoration at 537 Warren Street, requires window specs and delays lighting approval

The Hudson Historic Preservation Commission on a unanimous vote approved a certificate of appropriateness for the restoration and renovation of 537 Warren Street but required the applicant to submit manufacturer specifications for all windows and deferred approval of lighting.

The commission’s approval covers restoration of the front façade, removal of exterior corrugated sheet metal, restoration of exterior brick, replacement of existing windows and doors, and the relocation of a doorway pursuant to specifications submitted to the commission. City attorney Paladora read the conditions into the record: “The applicant shall submit manufacturer specifications for all windows.”

Applicant representatives described the window and door products planned for the project, naming Loewen as the intended manufacturer and saying the windows will be wood with aluminum cladding on the exterior and finished in a steel matte black color. “The brand is Loewen windows and doors. It’s a very high end window and door product,” the applicant said when presenting product specifications and window types, which include fixed, double-hung and casement units.

Commissioners emphasized masonry standards and mortar matching. The certificate requires that any new mortar be matched to the existing mortar in color, composition, joint type and profile, and that cleaning preserve the original patina: cleaning must be nonabrasive and not remove the historic finish.

The commission noted lighting will be handled separately. Commissioners asked the applicant to return with shop drawings and lighting specifications demonstrating compatibility with historic standards and dark-sky considerations; the lighting element was explicitly excluded from the certificate as adopted.

A motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness as drafted, with the listed conditions and the exclusion of lighting, was made and seconded; the commission voted in favor.

The applicant was told to submit the window manufacturer specifications to the commission and to return with lighting details when available. The commission said it would date and issue the final certificate once those conditions are captured in the written decision.

Background: The project proposes restoration of an existing commercial building previously known in the packet as the former Mexican radio site, including removal of nonhistoric siding, repair and repointing of brick, and replacement of windows and doors in existing openings. The commission held the project under continuation at prior meetings to obtain product specifications and masonry details; the applicant provided window brand and product types during this meeting.

Next steps: The applicant must file the required manufacturer specifications for the windows and submit lighting shop drawings for the commission’s review before lighting work may proceed under the commission’s approval.