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Commission denies retroactive approval for vinyl window replacements at Elm Heights property owned by Chickering Rentals
Summary
A retroactive COA request from Chickering Rentals for 806 S. Woodlawn was denied after staff concluded the replacements were conducted without prior permission and evidence did not clearly show the originals were beyond repair; the petitioner apologized and cited being new to neighborhood rules.
The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission on Feb. 12 denied a retroactive certificate of appropriateness for 806 South Woodlawn Avenue after concluding the property owner replaced original wood windows with vinyl units without prior approval and the record did not demonstrate the originals were irreparable.
Noah, the preservation program manager, explained that the Elm Heights guidelines allow replacement only when windows cannot be repaired; staff found it unclear whether the removed windows were beyond repair and noted images posted to real-estate listings did not obviously show severe deterioration. "It is not clear that they were inoperable or unrepairable," Noah said in summarizing the staff recommendation to deny the retroactive COA.
Lindsay Thompson, representing Chickering Rentals and speaking as a nearby neighbor, apologized for the work and said the company had not fully understood the neighborhood guidelines when it bought and remodeled multiple properties rapidly: "We were not, as aware as we are now of the historic guidelines... I do apologize." She asked whether a variance could be considered once Elm Heights finishes rewriting its bylaws.
Neighborhood commenters and Elm Heights committee members disputed the claim that windows were irreparable. Jenny Southern, who serves on the Elm Heights committee, said she had seen the house in prior years and that it had storm windows and appeared well maintained: "I didn't see any sign from the outside that the glazing was coming out at all," she said. Several commissioners noted the commission had previously visited a related property and advised property owners that repair was an option.
Commissioners debated whether the neighborhood's anticipated guideline changes warranted delay. Some acknowledged the challenge of balancing sustainability and preservation but emphasized the existing rules: "If original windows, doors, or hardware can be restored, reused, they should not be replaced," one commissioner said.
By roll call the commission voted to deny COA2609. Commissioners directed staff to follow up with the petitioner and neighborhood about next steps and potential remediation, including whether original windows might be recovered or documented.
The denial means the retrofit does not receive formal approval; staff and the petitioner indicated they will pursue follow-up conversations about compliance, potential restoration of original fabric if available, and neighborhood engagement on future replacements.
