York City review board approves conditioned siding work at 209 East Philadelphia Street

The York City Historical Architectural Review Board on Jan. 8 approved exterior repairs at 209 East Philadelphia Street but imposed conditions to preserve the building’s historic appearance.

The project representative said the house failed a rental inspection and that vinyl siding had already been installed on the sides and rear without recognition that the property is in the city’s historic district. Board members said the board does not approve vinyl on front façades in the historic district and instead requested a front elevation of fiber-cement or a similar composite lap siding. Board member (Speaker 2) moved to accept the application with revisions to require the composite front material; Board member (Speaker 3) seconded the motion, and the board approved it by voice vote.

Under the board’s decision, existing vinyl may remain on the sides and rear because of limited visibility from the street, but the deteriorated wood siding on the front must be replaced with fiber-cement or a composite material with a similar exposure to match the building’s proportions. The board also required windowsills, trim, fascia and crown molding that cannot be restored to be replaced with composite material that matches the original dimensions and profiles. Board members explicitly noted that wrapped window sills are unacceptable because they can conceal rot and later fail.

The motion recorded by the board specified: replace deteriorated front wood siding with fiber-cement or composite lap siding, allow vinyl on sides/rear due to limited visibility, and replace windowsills, trim and fascia with composite material of similar dimension and profile. The board approved the motion by a voice vote; ayes were recorded.