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Commission approves residential conversion, wood windows for 157–159 West Main Street
Summary
The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for renovations at 157–159 West Main Street, including a required fire egress, freestanding rear terrace and a late amendment that the second‑floor windows be solid wood rather than wood-clad.
The commission on Feb. 27 approved a certificate of appropriateness for renovations to 157–159 West Main Street that would convert the building’s upper floor to residential use and refresh painted brick, with a condition that new second‑floor windows must be solid wood.
The decision follows a presentation by staff member Kenneth McKinney and comments from property owner Edward “Ed” Rouse, who described the building as a family property built in 1879 and said he has owned it for roughly 35 years. The applicant proposed replacing upper‑floor windows and doors, painting brick only where it is already painted, and constructing a freestanding terrace at the rear that would not be attached to the historic brick.
Commissioners noted the fire marshal requirement for a second‑floor exit and the applicant confirmed a new exterior exit door would be carved into the rear wall to meet that code requirement. Rouse said the terrace would be freestanding to avoid drilling into or otherwise fastening to the historic brick.
During debate a commissioner moved an amendment to require solid wood windows rather than wood‑clad or “wood look” windows; the amendment passed (5 ayes, 1 abstention), and the amended motion to approve the certificate also passed 5 ayes, 1 abstention. The motion language on the record was to approve the certificate of appropriateness for 157 through 159 West Main Street "as submitted" with the amendment specifying wood windows.
Rouse described an effort to preserve historic interior material: he said original doors and reclaimed flooring would be reused inside and described a mantel rescued decades earlier from the Daniel Pratt house with an underside marking of the year 1843; he said he intends to preserve those elements. He also told commissioners he would maintain unpainted brick on the sides and rear where it historically was not painted.
The commission’s action approves the exterior changes as presented, the added rear egress required by fire code, and the freestanding terrace design, subject to the adopted wood-window condition. No specific timeline or building permit conditions were recorded on the public record at the meeting.
