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Angola preservation commission approves replacement of side door at 35 S. Public Square
Summary
The Angola City Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness to replace a deteriorated side door at 35 South Public Square after discussion about safety, historic character and cost.
The Angola City Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for replacement of the side door at 35 South Public Square, a building occupied by Angola Lodge, after commissioners heard that the existing door, frames and transom glass are deteriorated and pose safety and energy problems.
Commission members debated whether the existing door could be repaired or should be replaced. An applicant representative said the proposed replacement will match the building's existing arch and trim. Glenn Rogers, master of Angola Lodge 236, told the commission the side doors are the only practical second egress for part of the building and recalled a state inspector’s recommendation to replace them. "He recommended 5 years ago that we replace all those doors because they are not safe," Rogers said.
Why it matters: commissioners said their primary mandate is to preserve building fabric while balancing safety. The applicant representative said the current door lets in drafts that damage interior plaster and creates safety concerns; the building owner also noted the custom replacement would cost about $17,000–$18,000 and is largely beyond their immediate budget.
During the discussion, commissioners and the applicant confirmed the replacement will preserve the arch and the visible trim and will not alter stone or structural attachments to the building. The applicant said the new door materials "will be exactly the same" in profile and that the arch and decorative elements will be retained.
Commission members asked technical questions about hinges, attachment to stone, existing hardware and prior repairs. Glenn Rogers described past inspections and interim fixes: he said the push bar had been missing and that in earlier inspections the door on the right-hand side could not be opened without improvised hardware.
After discussion the commission approved the staff COA recommendation by voice vote. The motion passed; the transcript records a voice vote in favor but does not record individual named votes or a numeric tally.
The commission noted the expense of preserving and repairing older downtown buildings and encouraged owners to pursue available facade grant programs and to seek qualified preservation tradespeople for repairs.
The commission continued to other agenda items after the approval and offered the applicant best wishes for completing the work.
