Historic District Commission approves roof and repair plan at 602 West Walnut

The Kalamazoo Historic District Commission on Friday unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness allowing owners of 602 West Walnut to remove an existing rear balcony, install a hip roof over the kitchen bump-out and convert two doors into windows, following testimony that the structure suffers extensive water, termite and asbestos-related damage.

The approval matters because commission staff warned that only four members were present and unanimous votes were required; the owners said the existing balcony was leaking, unsafe and had turned parts of the wall into “dirt,” and they said immediate repairs are needed to make the rental safe for tenants.

Scott Hunsinger, who identified himself as the property owner, told the commission workers had uncovered severe rot and termite damage when asbestos siding was removed. “We're fixing all the rot that's all throughout that duplex double kitchen bump out,” Hunsinger said. He said the work will include removing asbestos siding, rebuilding the bump-out framing, replacing doors with 100% wood windows that match the house, and adding insulation. “It's already gonna cost us, you know, $40,000 to make this right,” he said.

Commission members discussed how the proposed hip roof would sit below the third-story windows and be pitched enough to shed water and snow. An applicant representative said the new roof would keep a gap below the upper windows to avoid snow buildup and that the replacement windows would be wooden, double-pane units to match the house. The contractor referenced in testimony was Plowshares Construction, named by Hunsinger as the primary carpenter on the job.

The motion approved a Certificate of Appropriateness under the Secretary of the Interior's Standards (applicants cited Standards 2, 9 and 10). The commission's roll-call recorded four affirmative votes: Katie — yes; Dana — yes; Dan — yes; James — yes. The commission noted that applicants will still need to obtain any required building permits before construction begins.

Commission staff said asbestos removal and material choices will require coordination with building-permit processes; staff said they would provide paperwork and next steps to the applicant. Hunsinger also said the owners plan broader repairs to three properties they own on the block, including electrical upgrades and new roofs on adjacent buildings.

The commission's unanimous approval allows the applicant to proceed with detailed permitting and construction plans. Staff said they will follow up with the applicant by the end of the week to provide paperwork and to confirm required building permits and inspections.

Details recorded at the meeting included the applicant's estimate of about $40,000 for the immediate repair, a broader electrical upgrade across three properties estimated at about $70,000, and the applicant's statement that Plowshares Construction would undertake the work. The commission noted that asbestos siding will be removed and replaced with appropriate materials consistent with historic rehabilitation guidance.