San Antonio advisory board backs staff guidance to retain historic windows at 135 West Lowwood

The Compliance and Technical Advisory Board voted July 18 to follow staff recommendations that the majority of original windows at 135 West Lowwood be repaired rather than replaced with vinyl units.

Board members supported staff guidance after the property owner, Ronald Ron, described plans to replace 15 windows and said 12 of those openings retain original wooden frames while three are not historically representative. Ron said the proposed product — identified in his presentation as Playhem 5800 and Pelaccoast — would cost about $36,000 for the 15 units and that he has previously used similar products on a nearby house.

The board’s recommendation, presented by staff during the hearing, did not endorse wholesale replacement of historic wood windows with vinyl. Staff noted that replacements should follow the City’s development code and the board’s design guidelines and urged that non-historic openings be considered differently from historic, original windows. A staff representative said there are contractors who provide written restoration quotes and encouraged the owner to pursue those estimates; an independent staff reviewer described most of the street-facing windows as repairable.

Several board members praised the owner’s outreach to neighbors and the level of documentation in his application but urged him to obtain written bids from qualified historic‑window restorers before proceeding. After questions and discussion, Commissioner [Taibis] moved to approve staff recommendations; the motion passed and commissioners present voted in favor.

The board instructed the applicant to coordinate with staff on next steps and to provide restoration quotations and product details as required by the Historic Preservation Office. No change to the property may begin until required municipal permits are obtained and any certificate of appropriateness is issued.