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Council affirms ARB decision ordering repair of front windows at 224 East Fillmore
Summary
Following a public hearing and site inspection reports from the Architectural Review Board, Petersburg City Council voted to affirm the ARB determination that nine front windows at 224 East Fillmore Street should be repaired rather than replaced with wood-clad/aluminum units.
Petersburg City Council on June 17 heard an appeal by the owner of 224 East Fillmore Street seeking to overturn an Architectural Review Board determination and allow replacement of the property’s front windows with wood-clad aluminum units. After testimony from the applicant and ARB members and questions from council, the council voted to affirm the ARB decision that the front-facing windows should be repaired when feasible.
Planning Director Naomi Saadmock summarized the ARB’s finding: two ARB members inspected the property in person and concluded the front windows could be preserved and repaired, while side and rear windows that are less visible from the street could be replaced. The applicant, Michael Nick, told council he intended to use the building as a rental and said several sash and track components were failing and that he preferred to replace all windows with wood-clad units that match the appearance of the originals. Bill Hartsock, a member of the Architectural Review Board who participated in the site inspection, said the sashes and trim were in condition to be preserved and that repair would retain the building’s historic character under the Department of the Interior and local guidelines.
Council members asked specifically whether repaired windows could be made functional to meet occupancy and fire-safety standards. Staff and two local contractors present said historic wood sashes and frames can be repaired to function, and that certificates of occupancy require working egress openings and safety features.
Councilman Coburn moved to affirm the ARB decision. The motion was seconded and carried on a recorded roll call: Councilmember Cuthbert, Councilmember Myers, Councilmember Smith Lee and Mayor Perrin voted to affirm; Councilmember Jones voted no. The council therefore required repair of the eleven front windows (transcript references) rather than wholesale replacement with wood-clad aluminum at the front elevation; the ARB had recommended replacement only where preservation was not feasible.
