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Owners to reopen historic doorway, replace second‑story windows at 214–222 West State Street; commission approves aluminum‑clad option
Summary
The commission approved a plan to reopen a historically bricked doorway at 214–222 West State Street, replace second‑story windows (aluminum‑clad option favored) and repaint/repair the awning and storefront; owner Mark Jonas said the scope will support a restaurant, retail and apartments above.
The Geneva Preservation Commission approved changes to the storefront and second‑story windows at 214–222 West State Street at its May 19 meeting, including reopening a historically bricked doorway and permitting aluminum‑clad wood windows as the preferred replacement option.
Staff reviewed the building’s evolution (storefront alterations in the 1940s–1960s, recent masonry repointing) and explained that evidence supports reopening a bricked‑over interior doorway that historically provided frontage and stairs to upper units. Owner and general contractor Mark Jonas described plans to create a restaurant and boutique retail on the first floor, convert upper‑floor space to apartments, and lower the basement slab to increase basement ceiling height for usable space.
On windows, Jonas presented repair and replacement cost estimates: a local historic contractor’s repair quote for 14 second‑story windows was about $60,000, while aluminum‑clad replacements were competitively priced. Commissioners compared previous approvals in the district (staff noted aluminum‑clad windows were previously accepted on second stories) and weighed in that aluminum‑clad products can be milled to match historic trim when viewed from the street. A staff member also explained that the projecting awning is structurally integrated into the façade and that the practical approach is to repaint and refinish the existing metal projection and to cover the concrete structural rim with a matching panel, reserving full removal for a later, more invasive structural intervention.
A commissioner (speaker 7) moved to approve the storefront change and window replacement using aluminum‑clad wood windows at 214–222 West State Street; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call (Jensen, McManus, Phillips, Solomon, Tobler voted Aye). Staff and the applicant agreed the application will return for any necessary sign permits once tenants are identified and that the covering of the concrete stripe will be included in the building permit so work can begin promptly.
The owner emphasized sensitivity to historic character and committed to matching limestone surrounds and other trim details to the Henry store precedent where feasible; staff and commissioners asked the owner to bring final window samples and trim details on return for administrative or subsequent HPC review.
