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Commission approves material changes at 1003 Queen City Ave.; debate centers on window material
Summary
The HPC approved replacement of siding, roof and windows at 1003 Queen City Ave., but commissioners questioned use of Andersen Series 100 (Fibrex) windows and noted the applicant agreed to use an approved alternative if needed.
The Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for material changes at 1003 Queen City Avenue on Aug. 13, 2025, allowing replacement of siding, roof and windows and the refurbishment of existing shutters, while the commission discussed whether Andersen Series 100 (Fibrex) windows meet local guidelines.
During the staff presentation, planners described the proposal as replacing existing windows with vinyl-clad wood windows sized to match existing openings, replacing siding with 1-by-6 wood lap siding to be painted white, refurbishing and reinstalling existing shutters painted black, and replacing an asphalt shingle roof with a gray synthetic slate roof. The staff presentation identified applicable design standards for rehabilitation, roofs, windows and shutters. The application listed Andersen 400-series vinyl-clad wood windows as the proposed product.
Contractor Vance Ballard, representing the owner, described the project as a full historic renovation and said the team intends to preserve original features when possible, refurbish original shutters and use a high-quality synthetic slate that closely mimics real slate. Ballard said the owner is prepared to specify Andersen 400-series windows if the commission is not comfortable with the Series 100 (Fibrex) material he brought as a sample.
Commissioners questioned whether the Andersen Series 100 (Fibrex) product is an appropriate material for a historic district because some technical descriptions of the Series 100 describe it as an extruded PVC-based product and not a wood or aluminum-clad wood window. Commissioners noted the commission has previously approved vinyl-clad or wood-clad windows that mimic solid wood profiles, and staff and commissioners said the 400 series and other vinyl-clad wood products have been acceptable in prior cases. Ballard offered to use the 400 series if the commission preferred.
After discussion the commission approved the application by roll call; votes recorded in the transcript were all in favor. The chair and staff reminded the applicant to coordinate with city staff on outstanding details such as any accessory structure removal, handrails, chimney caps and landscaping, and that any changes from the approved plan must be submitted to staff for review.
The motion approved material changes for 1003 Queen City Avenue (HPC 41-25) and noted that windows in the application are to be the Andersen 400-series vinyl-clad wood unit as presented in the application, with the applicant prepared to substitute that product if needed.
