Landmarks Commission approves reconstruction of west addition at 5 W. Waterloo with multiple conditions

The Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission approved application CA-25-003 to renovate the western stuccoed addition of the commercial building at 5 West Waterloo Street, imposing seven conditions designed to preserve the building’s streetscape character while allowing the owner to address longstanding deterioration.

Owner John Kantner introduced himself and said he owns the building and that Mid State Contractors (represented by Doug Hooper) will oversee work. Andrew (staff) presented the proposal: remove stucco from the addition, install Belcrest 700 thin veneer brick, replace an existing concrete stoop and raised door with a new series of windows at sidewalk level, install new Quaker windows for the addition, and remove an unused chimney section. The applicant noted active water infiltration at the stuccoed areas and said paint and mortar on the painted brick have contributed to deterioration.

Commission discussion covered color and mortar matching, the plane of the stucco versus underlying brick, new lintels, sills, flashing and coping details, the practical cost and risk of removing paint from existing historic brick, and whether the basement man door should remain. Commissioners and staff agreed to give the owner the option to remove the basement (mechanical) door entirely and replace the opening with brick, or to replace the door with a flush steel door painted to match the brick if the owner chooses to keep it. The commission also recommended limestone sills for the new addition’s two windows and a galvanized metal coping painted bronze to match existing roof coping.

The commission’s motion to approve CA-25-003 carried on a roll-call vote. The motion included specific conditions: (1) match mortar color as closely as possible to adjacent historic mortar, (2) block and brick over the west ground-level window as shown, (3) owner may remove the basement door or replace it with a like-for-like flat steel door painted to match the brick, (4) match window cladding/color to existing historic windows, (5) the Belcrest veneer brick to match adjacent painted brick color as closely as possible, (6) remove the unused chimney section and keep coping in a bronze color, and (7) use limestone sills for the two addition windows and paint them to match the windows.

Commissioners asked staff to verify submitted product samples and to coordinate with the building official on code items such as required exterior emergency/egress lighting if a new exterior door is installed. The commission also discussed long-term options for stripping painted brick but noted cost and potential harm; staff and the owner agreed to prioritize repairs and a compatible veneer in the near term.

Votes at a glance: application CA-25-003 — approved with seven conditions (see body for list).