Historic commission approves like-for-like replacement of six windows at 100 Oakland Street

The Bristol Historic District Commission voted Feb. 25 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for replacement of six windows at 100 Oakland Street.

Ben Burnham, representing Renewal by Andersen and the local affiliate Southern New England Windows, told the commission the project installs replacement-style full-divided-light (FDL) windows designed to emulate historic wood sashes. “They are designed to emulate historic windows,” Burnham said, adding the new units use a wood-polymer composite intended to match the existing look while improving energy performance.

Burnham said the six windows in the application are not street-facing — most are rear-facing and two face a side street — and that the work would preserve exterior trim, shutters and existing openings. “We are not changing the openings. We’re just putting a new window in the existing opening,” Burnham said. He also showed a sample sash and said installation can be done year-round and typically requires one day on site with a single vehicle.

The chair, Robert Flanagan, said the application appeared straightforward and like-for-like from the street. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about visibility, whether shutters would be removed and the availability of custom grid patterns; Burnham said shutters and historic brackets would remain in place and that custom grids are possible but may be more expensive.

After a short discussion, Commissioner Eric Stevens moved to approve application 2026-02-01 for 100 Oakland Street. The five regular voting commissioners approved the motion; the commission had appointed its five regular members to vote on the application. The chair declared the motion passed.

The commission’s action grants the certificate of appropriateness as submitted. The applicant may proceed with the window replacements according to the submitted plan and any standard staff review process required by the commission.