Historic Preservation Commission approves storefront restoration for downtown contributor

The Ojai Historic Preservation Commission on May 22 approved Work Permit 25004 for façade restoration at a building identified as a contributor to the Downtown Ojai Historic District, including reopening original transom windows and replacing the current metal storefront with a wood, multi‑pane system.

Staff said the proposal — based on an analysis prepared by Page & Turnbull — would expose an original wood transom that had been covered with plywood and would replace the existing non‑original metal storefront with operable, wood, six‑pane windows to better match the building’s historic character. Maura (Community Development staff) told commissioners that the property lies in the East Avenue design guideline area and that the project will subsequently go to the Planning Commission because the parcel is in a commercial zone.

Why it matters: the building is listed as a contributor to the California Register‑listed Downtown Ojai Historic District, and the commission’s decision advances…