Commission denies demolition of Thurman Avenue fence, approves Marvin "Elevate" windows but rejects roof and siding changes

The German Village Commission on Feb. 5, 2025, denied an application to demolish an existing wrought-iron fence at 420 Thurman Avenue while approving a separate application to install Marvin "Elevate" windows on non-double-hung openings in an addition and a new carriage house on 192 Thurman Avenue; the panel also voted against changes to a dormer/front-porch roof and against replacing 16" siding with irregular 8/12/16" siding on the 192 Thurman property.

Commissioners said the proposed fence demolition would remove a historically and architecturally significant feature and that removal should be contingent on an acceptable replacement. The fence applicant, Mark Auerz, presented a condition report and expert assessments and told the commission that repairs were not viable, saying more than "50% of this fence is gone" and that a repair approach would produce a mixed old-and-new result he considered undesirable. Auerz asked for demolition as submitted; commissioners repeatedly said they wanted either a replica replacement approved in advance or to see the replacement proposal before granting demolition.

The commission moved on the demolition application as submitted and the motion failed. Commissioners opposed demolishing the fence without a demonstrated, approved replacement; staff cited city code section 301.614 (standards for demolition) and the German Village guidelines for fences and walls when recommending caution on demolition of contributing features.

Separately, the commission considered an application for 192 Thurman Avenue to substitute Marvin window products. The applicant, Mark Mason, asked the commission to allow the Marvin Elevate product (wood interior, fiberglass exterior) for non-double-hung openings on an addition and on a new carriage house and to use Marvin Ultimate for certain double-hung windows facing the street. Commissioners discussed the historic-window standards and the approved-window list; staff clarified that the Elevate product was on the approved list for new construction and that double-hung details were the primary concern. The commission approved the application as amended to permit Marvin Elevate on non-double-hung windows for the addition and carriage house.

Finally, the commission split a separate application for 192 Thurman Avenue into two parts — Part A (change the slope of a front-porch/dormer roof to an upward slope) and Part B (change siding from uniform 16" to irregular 8/12/16" widths). After discussion referencing German Village design guidelines on roof shapes, rhythm and siding profiles, the commission voted against approving Part A and then against Part B, concluding the proposed roof and siding changes were not sufficiently compatible with the district's established patterns.

What the commission decided

- Fence demolition, COA 2400420192 (420 Thurman Ave.): motion to allow demolition as submitted — denied. - Windows, COA 2500022192 (192 Thurman Ave.): Marvin Elevate permitted for non-double-hung windows on the addition and carriage house — approved as submitted/amended. - Roof change, COA 2500023192 Part A (192 Thurman Ave.): proposed upward slope on dormer/front-porch roof — denied. - Siding change, COA 2500023192 Part B (192 Thurman Ave.): proposed irregular-width vertical siding — denied.

Context and next steps

Commissioners and staff repeatedly invoked the German Village guidelines and relevant sections of city code when weighing permanence and materiality. Applicants denied demolition or design changes may revise and return with additional documentation; for the fence demolition the commission indicated it would be more likely to consider removal if the applicant presented an acceptable replacement design in advance.

Speakers quoted in this report are drawn from the meeting record; direct quotations are verbatim excerpts from the transcript.