Board denies metal window trim on primary elevations at 618 S. Washington, allows it on secondary sides

The Winchester City Board of Architectural Review on Nov. 7 voted to deny the use of aluminum window trim on the two primary elevations of 618 South Washington while allowing the trim on secondary elevations.

Staff said contractors had covered wood window sills with aluminum trim without prior BAR approval and submitted an application to regularize the work. Planning staff member David Gomm Jr. told the board the house’s construction date appears to be in the late 1940s to early 1950s, which matters because the BAR’s Chapter 2 residential rehabilitation guidelines treat alternative materials differently for properties built after 1947. "Our guidelines basically say that retain the original windows, hardware, trim, and if possible, patch them if possible, replace only if they're missing or beyond repair," the chair said during discussion.

Board members disputed whether the property falls on the post-1947 side of the guideline cutoff. One member noted Sanborn maps and a 2011 survey suggesting a mid-century date, while another pointed to online listings that gave different years. The discrepancy led the chair to recommend tabling the application until the exact year could be verified; instead, a board member moved to deny the aluminum trim on the primary (street-facing) elevations and approve it on the secondary elevations so the applicant would not be required to reapply for work on less-visible sides.

The motion to deny metal trim on the primary elevations and approve it on the secondary elevations passed. The board’s decision preserves the guidelines’ preference for original or wood trim on primary facades while offering a path to regularize the existing work where visibility is limited.

Next steps: staff will update the record and advise the applicant on any follow-up documentation the board requires, including definitive construction‑date evidence if further review is sought.