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BAR approves three second‑story 2-over‑2 wood windows at 209 South Street SE
Summary
The Board approved replacement of three nonfunctional second‑story front windows at 209 South Street SE with new double‑hung 2‑over‑2 wood windows after staff found the existing windows were altered and likely irreparable.
The Leesburg Board of Architectural Review approved the replacement of three second‑story front windows at 209 South Street Southeast on March 19, 2025. Preservation staff concluded the windows currently in the openings were not original to those openings, were in poor condition and could not be restored without likely causing damage; the board approved three new double‑hung 2‑over‑2 wood windows on the second‑floor front elevation and added a finding that the mismatched front windows on the first floor were a modern alteration and not an historic element to be preserved under this application.
Why it matters: The owner described the current windows as dangerous and nonfunctional; preservation staff documented extensive modification and deterioration that made repair impractical and recommended replacement in kind per the guidelines.
Staff presentation and owner comments: Preservation staff described field observations of shims, permanent epoxy and ill-fitting sashes and said removing the existing windows for repair would likely damage them beyond repair. Property owner Trisha Smith told the board she had Pella measure and test for lead paint and had documentation and drawings for the house. "The first thing I wanted to do for the house was to get new windows. And the reason why is they are horrible. It's a fire hazard," Smith said.
Board action: Julie Pastor moved that the BAR approve TLHPBR2025-0058 (installation of three new double‑hung 2-over-2 wood windows on the second‑story front elevation) based on staff findings; Rick Brown seconded. The motion included standard BAR conditions that any changes from site-plan, zoning or building permits require revised application. The board added a finding that the mismatched front windows were a later, modern change and not historic fabric to be preserved under this approval. The motion passed 7-0.
Conditions and next steps: The board approved only the three second‑story 2‑over‑2 windows; no other front-window replacements were approved under this action. The owner said she would preserve existing trim where possible and have contractors repair any damaged trim with staff review. She also provided lead-test results and said Pella recommended lead-abatement procedures during installation.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript.
