Greeley commission approves vinyl siding replacement at 1526 9th Avenue, 6-1

On April 6, 2026, the Greeley Historic Preservation Commission voted 6-1 to approve a certificate of approval permitting replacement of damaged vinyl siding with matching vinyl at 1526 9th Avenue, a contributing property in the Monroe Avenue Historic District.

Staff told the commission the existing vinyl siding, installed in 1991, has extensive hail damage and that the wood lap siding underneath could not be fully assessed without first removing the vinyl. "Staff reviewed it in accordance with the criteria and standards in section 24-1003(j)(1" and found the proposed like-for-like replacement would have "a basically neutral effect on the character of the property," staff said, recommending approval to address moisture and structural concerns.

The commission’s decision followed questions from members and public commenters about alternatives and costs. A commissioner asked whether the property is owner-occupied; staff and the applicant confirmed it is a rental. The commissioner suggested removing the vinyl to assess whether the original wood could be restored and painted as a lower-cost option if it were in good condition. Staff and commenters warned that removing the siding can reveal rotten boards, lead-based paint, or other hazards that raise time and cost for repairs.

Dennis Scholte, a longtime Greeley property owner who spoke during public comment, urged caution about forcing removal. "When you have the siding pulled off and you're looking at it, you don't have a lot of options at that moment other than wrapping it or... you can run into a lot of lead-based paints that you have to deal with," Scholte said. Other members described the emotional value of exposed original wood siding, with one commissioner saying revealing original siding on a nearby house "was so beautiful and such a difference."

Commissioners also debated whether approving replacement vinyl would create a precedent. Staff acknowledged a precedent was possible but said the project’s status as a contributing property and the fact that the work would be a like-for-like replacement made approval appropriate under the district’s intent and the Secretary of the Interior standards.

Commissioner (speaker 3) moved that the commission find the proposed siding replacement at 1526 9th Avenue meets criteria a, c, e, f and h of section 24-1003(j)(1) of the Greeley Municipal Code and approve the request for a certificate of approval; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote, 6-1. The applicant said they expect to complete the work by the end of the summer and staff said it will follow up on samples and scheduling.

The commission also received routine reports, including an update from Historic Relay Inc. about upcoming preservation events and a staff reminder about Historic Preservation Month activities on May 21 at the Creative District Building.