Historic preservation staff approved a roof replacement for 163 Division Street (25 COA 02), allowing the existing gray-green three-tab asphalt shingles to be replaced with Owens Corning Duration Flex architectural asphalt shingles in onyx black.

Deb, the commission’s staff member, read the staff approval into the record and said the house is a contributing Italianate structure built around 1890 in the State and Division local and National Register historic districts. She said the proposed shingle replacement retains the original roof shape and meets district guidelines for material and profile and that, under the ordinance’s staff-approval provisions for like-for-like or slightly improved replacements, staff approved the change on April 16.

Commission members had no objections on the floor when the staff action was entered into the record. No formal commission vote was taken because the replacement met the written criteria allowing administrative approval by staff.