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Historic Review Board approves facade repairs and window replacements for 226 Main Street
Summary
The Vincennes Historic Review Board unanimously approved property owner Ryan McCormack’s plan to replace windows and repair the front façade of 226 Main Street to address termite and water damage; work is expected to proceed with composite windows and Hardie board and McCormack said crews aim to finish exterior safety work before July 4th.
The Vincennes Historic Review Board voted unanimously to approve property owner Ryan McCormack’s proposal to repair the front façade and replace the street‑facing windows at 226 Main Street.
McCormack told the board the entire front of the building—about a 66‑foot span—had been “rotted out with termite damage and water damage” and was no longer securely attached to the ground. He said an earlier bid from D&H Glass just for the Main Street side was about $60,000, and that because of cost and time constraints he proposes installing low‑maintenance composite vinyl replacement windows that are roughly one foot shorter than the originals, and using Hardie board to rebuild the lower portion of the façade.
Board members questioned material choices, safety and timing. McCormack said demolition and partial framing work are already under way, a crew is scheduled to complete the job, and he expects to have the critical exterior repairs done in time for the July 4th celebrations. He also noted the existing street‑level glass included fractured, non‑safety panes and described that as a public‑safety concern: “that’s a problem. So I blocked it all,” he said.
The board approved the work “as presented.” Elizabeth moved the motion and Sarah Wolf seconded it; the Chair, Elizabeth, Sarah Wolf and Brian recorded support and no opposition was stated. Members and the petitioner agreed that final paint colors and any additional exterior lighting or decorative elements would return to the board for review if they differed from what was presented. McCormack said he plans to return to present colors once the structural work is complete.
McCormack used AI renderings to illustrate the intended appearance but cautioned that the images were approximate; he invited board members to visit the site to inspect framing and window sizes. He also said some finishing items (paint, stucco, or a different façade treatment) will depend on timing and budget, and that the Hardie board approach is chosen to meet an immediate safety and usability need rather than to replicate original brickwork.
The board did not adopt any bylaw or fee changes as part of the approval; the vote covered the façade and window replacement as presented and did not authorize other exterior changes not discussed at the meeting.
