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Historic Preservation Commission denies request to replace stucco with vinyl in Garden Homes district
Summary
The commission denied a Certificate of Appropriateness for replacing historic stucco with vinyl siding at 4370 North 20th5 Street, citing Garden Homes district guidelines that forbid covering or replacing stucco with substitute siding; staff recommendation to deny was adopted by motion.
The Historic Preservation Commission on April 14 denied a Certificate of Appropriateness for vinyl siding and demolition of a chimney at 4370 North 205th Street in the Garden Homes Historic District, after hearing testimony from the developer who said vinyl is necessary to meet limited program subsidy levels.
Staff told the commission the window portion of the application arrived late and would not be considered at the meeting; staff reviewed the condition of the property and concluded that the stucco might be salvageable and that the district’s guidelines expressly forbid covering or replacing stucco with vinyl, metal, or other substitute siding. "It is forbidden to cover or replace stucco with substitute siding made of vinyl, metal, or any other material," staff said, quoting the Garden Homes guidance.
Developer Nikkia Mahunk (self-identified) told the commission she is redeveloping the house under the City’s MKE Homes program that uses federal ARPA funds to subsidize renovation and resale to owner-occupants. She said the property was severely deteriorated and that installing stucco correctly would push the renovation cost beyond the subsidy. "The cost to renovate these properties is much more than the property will actually be worth... In this case, 60 to 70% more," she said, and added that vinyl siding would save approximately $8,000 on the project; vinyl windows would save roughly $4,000.
Commissioners pushed back on approving vinyl in a local historic district. One commissioner noted that the Garden Homes guidance is explicit and that the commission has not approved vinyl siding in the district since designation. Commissioners urged the applicant to obtain multiple contractor estimates for proper stucco repair and offered to provide contractor referrals. A motion to deny the vinyl siding and related demolition was moved and seconded; the commission voted in favor of denial by voice vote.
The file will proceed with the staff-denial recorded; windows and roofing proposals were acknowledged as separate items that would require future or separate notice.
