Historic preservation panel unanimously denies COA for roof at 2713 West McKinley Boulevard

The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously Feb. 3 to deny a certificate of appropriateness application for an asphalt roof replacement at 2713 West McKinley Boulevard in the Cold Spring Park historic district.

Commissioners said the property is in visibly poor exterior condition and noted multiple unresolved maintenance issues. The denial requires the applicant to file a new COA and to remove the currently installed shingles before installing materials that comply with the commission's standards.

Staff opened the item as File 241-365. A commissioner who inspected the property said work began last November and described unfinished elements including a missing chimney flashing, removed gutters and temporary porch shoring. The property owner or representative acknowledged some ongoing work, said he supplied shingles to a subcontractor, and identified himself as a general contractor overseeing the job.

Commissioners pressed on other observed problems: torn gutters, damaged fascia and soffits, holes in the freeze board, and debris and unsafe conditions on the front porch. The owner said tenants occupy the four-unit building and that a plumbing violation reported by tenants a few weeks earlier was rectified immediately. Staff noted the commission's limited enforcement authority at present but confirmed the panel could deny the COA; separate building-code or tenant-related violations were handled through other city channels.

A commissioner moved to deny the COA on the grounds that the installed roofing material is inappropriate for the historic district and that the property appears neglected. A second followed and the motion carried unanimously. The chair confirmed the commission's decision and told the owner the denial means the current shingles must be removed and replaced with materials approved under the commission's rules. The owner said replacing the shingles would be costly and asked how other roofs in the block had escaped similar scrutiny; commissioners noted neighbors may file complaints if they believe other properties violate district standards and that an appeal could be made to the Common Council's Zoning and Neighborhood Development Committee.

The commission's staff will process the denial and the owner may submit a new COA application describing the proposed compliant roofing materials and any required repairs. No additional formal sanctions were announced at the meeting.

Files and references: File 241-365, certificate of appropriateness denial for roof materials at 2713 West McKinley Boulevard in the Cold Spring Park historic district.