Iowa City commission approves exception to allow picture windows at 521 Clark Street

At a meeting of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, members approved a certificate of appropriateness for 521 Clark Street, allowing a rear picture window without a divided-light pattern through an uncommon-situation exception and retaining the two north-facing garage windows unless evidence of deterioration is shown.

Neighborhood and Development Services staff member Anne Russet opened the agenda item with a description of the proposal: demolish a partially enclosed porch, add a small rear addition with cedar shake siding to match the existing house, relocate the header of two north-facing garage windows to provide natural light to a new laundry room, and add a fixed picture window on the rear facade. Russet said the project largely conforms with conservation-district guidelines but noted two items for commission…