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Commission denies composite-window replacement at 510 Minor Avenue over preservation concerns
Summary
The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission voted against a contractor's request to replace four deteriorated wood windows at 510 Minor Avenue with composite frames, citing the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and desire for more information from the property owner.
The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission on a roll call vote rejected a contractor's request to replace four deteriorated wood windows at 510 Minor Avenue with composite (Fibrex) windows and synthetic trim.
Contractor Brett Mahaffey of Renewal by Andersen told the commission he planned to replace four windows that he described as "completely rotted out" and to install composite trim such as AZEK. Commissioners pressed him for details about water management, whether the stucco cladding contributed to the rot, and why wood windows were not considered. Mahaffey said his company's renewal line uses a Fibrex composite and that they do not offer the wood-and-aluminum-clad option their manufacturer sells for new construction.
Commissioners cited the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation in their deliberations; the chair read Standard 6 aloud: "Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced." Several commissioners said the panel needs either clearer evidence that replacement is necessary or documentation that alternative materials are unavailable or impose an undue financial burden on the owner.
James (commissioner) moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness as complying with Standards 6, 9 and 10; the motion was seconded and put to roll call. The motion did not pass. The commission's staff told the contractor they would follow up and offered to meet with the applicant and the property owner to discuss next steps.
Because the commission voted no, the applicant may reapply; staff said the same application could appear on a future docket and that the applicant will need to provide any documentation the commission asks for before the commission is likely to approve wholesale replacements.
The commission's action leaves in place today the requirement that replacements be supported by the preservation standards the body applies and, when feasible, that historic materials be repaired rather than removed.
