Two homeowners seeking permission to re-side historic properties with vinyl were told by the Galena Historic Preservation Commission that the commission rarely approves vinyl in the city’s historic district and that applicants should appeal to the City Council on hardship grounds.

Don Hocker, owner of 213 Adam Street, told the commission he wants to re-side a single-family home with vinyl and that LP siding would cost roughly three times as much for materials alone. Hocker said he purchased the house recently and that new windows and a roof were already in place. Hocker said his goal was to “beautify” the property and asked for the commission’s permission to keep or replace vinyl.

Commissioners responded that the commission generally does not approve vinyl and that, in the last 17 years, the City Council has granted exemptions only twice. Commissioners said their responsibility is to protect the town’s historic character and that the appropriate next step for Hocker is to appeal to the City Council and to frame the appeal around financial hardship if he wishes to seek an exception.

A second case, for 421 Buzz Street (owner: Roger Bartel; applicant: Riley Chapman), was presented as an insurance claim. Chapman said the existing vinyl is more than 30 years old and that an insurance settlement would likely pay “like for like,” which is their reason for requesting permission for vinyl. Commissioners again advised appeal to the City Council, noting insurance payouts frequently limit replacement to the same material and do not fully cover the cost of historically appropriate siding such as LP.

No motion to approve vinyl was made in either case; neither applicant received a commission approval. Commissioners discussed the costs and maintenance trade-offs of different siding materials and noted the town has many fixed-income residents whose resources can constrain compliance with preservation standards.