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Landmarks Commission approves revised plan to preserve parts of 1922 house while permitting rebuild
Summary
After site visits and design revisions, the commission approved CA-25-049 to retain original first-floor framing and some exterior walls of a 1922 house while rebuilding altered portions; approval includes conditions on siding product, porch columns and window sizes.
The Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission voted to approve a revised application that would preserve elements of a 1922 house while allowing a substantial rebuild on the same footprint.
Staff explained the applicant amended a prior submission (previously tabled) to retain the existing floor framing, floor decking and the front first-floor walls of the original structure rather than demolish to the foundation. The changes reflect a site visit by commission members and additional design work intended to keep historic massing and visible elements where feasible.
The applicant told the commission they aim to preserve original materials where possible — proposing to reuse some original floorboards for interior stair treads and to retain the first-floor window crown and related trim. He said the plan keeps the main 1922 massing and adapts roof pitches and fenestration to echo the historic form while replacing a 2003 addition.
Commission technical discussion centered on the existing foundation and necessary structural repairs. Commissioners and the applicant described plans to install new anchor bolts, add sill sealer, grout-fill deteriorated masonry cells and add vertical reinforcement where required by code. The applicant confirmed engineers and structural plans will verify the work during permit review.
Design points dominated the debate: several commissioners said the proposed four front porch columns looked visually heavy and recommended either reducing the column diameters or adjusting spacing; the applicant agreed to provide revised elevations. Commissioners also pushed to make two front first-floor windows the same height to improve visual balance and to explore stair configuration changes to preserve natural light. Material selections discussed included 4" LP SmartSide siding (applicant), CertainTeed Landmark Pro shingles, Andersen 200 windows with simulated divided lights and composite or PVC crown details (AZEK) for trim.
Commissioner [speaker 1] moved to approve CA-25-049 with conditions: siding to be 4-inch LP SmartSide (not fiber cement) in sage green with white trim; dark dimensional asphalt shingles; porch columns to be reduced slightly in diameter and returned as revised elevations; front two windows resized to match and further review of the adjacent third window for proportion; windows to be Andersen 200 series with simulated divided light and a dark-bronze spacer; doors to be Stanley insulated steel doors with raised panels and half lights; and flexibility to use composite trim (e.g., AZEK) for crown and casing details. The motion was seconded and carried by roll call.
The commission asked that the applicant supply updated renderings showing the reduced column diameter and updated window sizes at the next meeting as new/old business (staff review may be used to expedite a quick check), and staff will verify structural corrections in building-permit submittals.
The approval is intended to balance preservation of the building’s historic elements with practical structural upgrades and modern materials that replicate traditional profiles.
