Historic commission approves siding and window replacements for relocated Zillstra Law Office in Coupeville

The Eby's Landing National Historical Reserve Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve Certificate of Appropriateness application COA-25-028 for the relocated Zillstra Law Office, finding the proposal consistent with the reserve's design guidelines. The commission's approval includes conditions to salvage reusable building materials for reserve use and to replace the vertical trim pieces on the front façade.

Lisa Walsh, assistant planner for the Town of Coupeville, told the commission the structure dates to about 1904, was moved from a bluff to a new parcel to prevent collapse, and currently has brittle siding and failing single-pane windows. Walsh said the applicant proposes wood Dutch-lap siding on the street-facing (south and east) facades and more durable, lower-cost HardiePlank on the north and west non-street facades, with the front wooden door to be replaced in kind and a fiberglass rear French door on a non-street facade. "The street-facing facades are more intentionally higher quality or historic materials," Walsh said, and staff concluded that the proposal "is consistent with the guidelines and will improve the structural integrity and longevity of the structure."

Applicant representatives described constraints that influenced material choices. Architect Stig Carlson said he and the owner view the relocated building as a single-family residence for the owner's son and that photographic records do not establish the French doors as original. Builder Tony Sherman of Cascade Custom Homes said custom, historically accurate wood windows can cost multiple times more than the fiberglass/composite option the applicant proposed; he told the commission the choice was driven by budget and by a desire for continuity with future related builds. "Custom-sized historic wood windows would be significantly more expensive," Sherman said.

Commissioners discussed the trade-offs between preserving historic fabric and ensuring the building's survival. One commissioner warned that incremental changes can erode a property's contributing status over time — "death by 1,000 cuts" — and staff acknowledged that moving the building has likely altered its status at the national-register level, even though the reserve can still recognize local significance. The commission added conditions to encourage salvage of any reusable historic material and to retain or document the historic plaque where feasible. The motion to approve was moved by Commissioner Marshall Bronson and seconded by Commissioner Parrish; the motion passed unanimously.