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Board approves new window openings at 117 West Main to enable upstairs apartments
Summary
The board approved adding two new windows on the west elevation of 117 West Main to provide light and egress for proposed 2-bedroom upstairs apartments, while discussing state-level code review and chapter 34 historic exemptions for these commercial-to-residential conversions.
Brian Martin presented the request at 117 West Main, saying the owner intends to develop the second and third floors into two 2-bedroom apartments and that code requires two means of egress and adequate natural light for habitable rooms. "Per building code, any space requires 2 means of egress," Martin said, citing the code constraint that drove the design choice to add two windows on the west elevation.
City staff cautioned that these projects often require state-level review and that chapter 34 exemptions for historic buildings are applied on a project-by-project basis. Staff said they have contacted state reviewers but that each filing is unique. The board discussed matching window profiles, stone lintels and sills, and design differentiation between historic fabric and new openings. The board approved the application; staff will continue to coordinate with state reviewers as necessary for code approvals.
