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Commission approves façade renovation at 813 S. Rail Railroad Avenue with staff-recommended materials
Summary
The commission approved staff recommendations for a façade renovation at 813 S. Rail Railroad Avenue, allowing widened entry for ADA access, hardy cladding to match framing, new wood full-glass doors, and replacement rear windows and doors; staff emphasized retaining decorative vents where possible.
The Opelika Historic Preservation Commission approved a façade renovation plan for 813 South Rail Railroad Avenue, endorsing staff recommendations that balance accessibility improvements with efforts to retain historic character.
Staff described a proposal to remove a deteriorated wood bulkhead and install a brick base for durability, expand the front entry from 5 to 6 feet to meet accessibility needs, install two new wood full-glass doors, apply hardy cladding to the storefront to match existing framing, replace the rear stoop with a steel door, and install 1-over-1 aluminum-clad double-hung rear windows. Staff recommended retaining decorative bulkhead vents where possible and using a wood or wood-substitute (such as hardy) to retain the historic look.
Commissioners discussed that because the facade work constitutes substantial reconstruction, the opening must meet current building and ADA-accessibility codes. Unidentified Commissioner (Speaker 9) noted salvaged materials could be reused elsewhere in the build-out. One commissioner said the existing wood was rotted and expressed support for a durable substitute.
A motion to approve staff recommendations was made, seconded and the commission carried the motion.
Next steps: The applicant may proceed consistent with the staff-approved materials and code requirements; the commission asked for examples of proposed materials where applicable.
