Commission approves major rehab at 708 W. 7th with siding and color conditions

The Davenport Historic Preservation Commission voted May 12 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for substantial rehabilitation at 708 West 7th Street, known in the agenda as COA26‑05, with conditions limiting exterior materials and window color.

Staff presented the project as a four‑part rehabilitation: reopen and reconstruct the front porch to an open style with code‑compliant steps and new composite columns and railings; replace existing window units with 1‑over‑1 replacement windows; re‑side the house (staff noted the existing asbestos shingle siding and past permits); and replace soffit and fascia with an aluminum product for durability. Staff also reviewed earlier district precedents where LP SmartSide composite siding or other non‑original materials had been approved for similarly altered houses.

An applicant representative said the work is part of the city’s “Extreme Dream” rehabilitation pipeline and cited an estimated project budget of about $195,000. The representative said cost constraints make vinyl windows and more affordable siding attractive options and that the project’s financing and vendor pricing remain in process.

Commissioners focused on neighborhood visibility, precedent and material quality. Several members said they did not favor plain white vinyl windows in such a visible corner location but recognized affordability tradeoffs for a city‑assisted rehab. Commissioners and the applicant discussed alternatives such as wood windows with aluminum cladding, LP SmartSide composite siding, and fiber‑cement (Hardie) as a higher‑quality option. Staff and commissioners emphasized asbestos testing/removal protocols if the existing siding proves to contain asbestos.

After debate, a motion carried to approve the project with conditions that the siding material be LP SmartSide or a comparable “or better” material (for example, fiber‑cement) and that replacement windows be non‑white vinyl units (color to be selected to maintain compatibility with the district). A roll‑call vote recorded one commissioner as passing; the motion otherwise passed.

The commission’s action allows the applicant to proceed under the stated exterior conditions; staff will work with the applicant on final product samples, color swatches and any required asbestos remediation documentation. The applicant said they will return with more detailed product samples and cost comparisons if requested by commissioners.

The project is part of the broader goal of returning a heavily modified rental property to safe, habitable use while attempting to preserve neighborhood character and maintain affordability for future buyers.