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HPC approves smooth LP siding for 418 South Fifth Street after revised cost estimates and discussion of salvageability
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Summary
After reviewing revised repair and replacement estimates and discussing salvageability, the commission approved replacement of historic siding at 418 South Fifth Street with smooth LP siding (stipulated) rather than cedar millwork.
The Geneva Historic Preservation Commission voted March 18 to approve replacing the siding at 418 South Fifth Street with smooth LP siding rather than repairing and restoring all original wood siding. The commission tied approval to using a smooth LP product (not wood grain cedar) as presented by the applicant’s contractor.
Contractor TJ of KNS General Contracting returned to the commission with revised, more detailed estimates after the commission upheld a prior HPC denial at city council. In the packet the applicant provided two estimates: a full cedar repair/replace option and an LP replacement option. The applicant said more than 50 percent of the existing siding is unsalvageable and provided updated line items that added ancillary trim, shoe trim, batten strips, scraping and painting of the entire house and other millwork the commission sought at the appeal meeting.
The contractor explained that the updated “repair and replace” estimate reflects significant millwork replacement (including soffit and fascia work and roughly 600 linear feet of additional trim) and a discovery allowance for unforeseen damage discovered once work begins. Commissioners and the contractor discussed that replacing selective boards can cause collateral damage to adjacent historic trim and fascia; the contractor said he included a discovery allowance in the cover letter and can add an explicit line item to the contract.
Commissioners indicated the goal is to preserve original materials when feasible, but that the front elevation is substantially deteriorated and many boards designated as salvageable have limited remaining life. After review, the commission moved to approve the LP smooth siding option as presented; the motion passed with all commissioners present voting in favor.
The approval requires the applicant to proceed with smooth LP siding and to follow standard permit and staff review procedures. The commission reiterated it will continue to evaluate similar cases using the revised application checklist and clarified presentation expectations for future repair estimates.
