Bay City HDC approves door replacement and authorizes demolition of damaged chimney at Sixth Street home

The Bay City Historic District Commission on an evening meeting approved a certificate of appropriateness to replace exterior back and screen doors at a house on Sixth Street and authorized the demolition of a chimney that commission members said is a safety hazard.

The commission voted to approve the applicant's work as described in case HDC 25‑21, finding the proposed door replacement meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior standards for rehabilitation referenced in the application and section 64‑11(c) of the city's historic preservation district regulations.

The applicant, Erin Goss, told the commission the chimney is leaking into an interior closet. "This is leaking water into our interior closet," Goss said. Commissioners asked whether utility exhausts run through the chimney; the applicant confirmed they do not.

On the second part of the same case, the commission voted to grant a notice to proceed for demolition after finding the chimney constitutes a hazard under section 64‑14(a) of the city code and that retaining it would cause undue financial hardship when the damage was caused by weather. Commissioners approved the demolition motion after discussion of alternatives and confirmation that owner attempts to address the problem had been exhausted.

Both actions were moved and supported on the record; commissioners present voted in favor of the motions. The commission recorded follow‑up directions: the applicant may coordinate with city staff for next steps. The chair thanked the applicant and noted staff members Terry and Lisa would provide additional direction.

The commission moved on to other business after taking the two actions on case HDC 25‑21.