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Historic district approves rear-facade improvements for 41 and 47 West Chicago Street
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Summary
The Coldwater Downtown Historic District Commission approved a certification of appropriateness for rear-facade improvements at 41 and 47 West Chicago Street, including new hardy board siding, a black metal awning and repainting/sealing of existing IFAS surfaces; the motion carried after brief discussion about brick staining and materials.
The Coldwater Downtown Historic District Commission voted to approve a certification of appropriateness for rear-facade improvements at 41 and 47 West Chicago Street during its March 11 meeting.
Staff (identified in the record as Robert) introduced an application from applicants described as Alice and Watson; Rusty Smith, who said he was “her dad,” spoke for the applicants and described plans to remove the existing blue cladding, install hardy board with a stucco finish to match the building’s front, replace and reroute white gutters, install a black steel roof/awning of the same dimensions as the current awning (about 4 feet projecting), and repaint and seal the IFAS surfaces above the blue line in a beige/cream color. Smith said the proposed roof and fascia would be steel with a white soffit for durability and that the new finish would “match the front.”
The commission discussed material choices and maintenance implications. A member asked whether hardy board is cement-based and whether the new siding would be separated from the brick; the applicants said they will install furring strips to attach vertical 12-foot sheets of hardy board and provide a gap similar to the existing IFAS installation. Staff noted the brick “likes to breathe” and warned that paint can trap moisture and accelerate deterioration, recommending stains or permeable sealants where possible. Smith said the contractor would use a sealant and two coats of a Sherwin-Williams exterior product intended for south-facing exposures.
A commission member moved “to approve the certification of appropriateness for rear facade improvement as per presented located at 41 And 47 West Chicago Street based on consistency with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation in the city of Coldwater historical district design guidelines,” and a second was recorded. After limited additional discussion about staining versus painting and whether utilities could be recolored with permission from the relevant authority, the motion carried; an aye vote was recorded on the public record and no opposition was voiced.
The commission asked the applicants to provide product information for proposed stains or sealants so staff can review material compatibility with historic standards. No additional conditions or amendments were recorded on the motion.
