Abilene panel approves steel garage doors for Swinson House

The Abilene Landmarks Commission voted unanimously to grant a certificate of appropriateness for CA-202504, allowing the Swinson House Historical Society to replace three wooden garage doors with steel doors.

Kara Belois, planner for the City of Abilene, told the commission the Swinson House, built in 1908 with Prairie-style influences, has damaged garage doors and that staff reviewed the request under the Secretary of the Interior standards for rehabilitation of historic buildings. "Staff recommends approval of this request," Belois said.

Tammy Conaway, president of the Swinson House Historical Society, spoke in support, saying, "Our garage doors are disintegrating and metal doors would last a lot longer," and that the group had sought a close visual match and would omit glass squares because of sizing constraints.

Staff presented photos showing damaged existing doors and a proposed steel door design that staff said would be visible primarily from the side rather than the front elevation. The commission described the request as "straightforward," moved to approve CA-202504 "as presented," and recorded affirmative votes from Mr. Young; Mr. Haughgren; Ms. Porcaine; and Ms. Kister. The chair declared the motion carried.

Under procedures read at the start of the meeting, decisions on certificates of appropriateness are final for the Landmarks Commission but may be appealed to the planning and zoning commission by written request to the planning director within 15 days of the meeting.

The commission’s approval allows the Swinson House Historical Society to proceed with the door replacements as depicted in the application and the staff packet.