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Commission approves after‑the‑fact window replacements at 305 West Congress
Summary
The Charles Town Historic Landmarks Commission granted a Certificate of Appropriateness for after‑the‑fact window removal and replacement at 305 West Congress, approving wooden double‑hung windows to match historic photos and requiring the installation pattern noted in the staff report.
The Charles Town Historic Landmarks Commission approved an after‑the‑fact Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for window work at 305 West Congress during its Dec. 9 meeting.
Staff member James told the commission the property is a contributing Italianate‑influenced frame residence from the late 19th century and that the homeowner had removed original colonial‑grid second‑floor corner windows and replaced them with single units. "The request is for after the fact approval of window removal and replacement," James said, then described the applicant’s proposed wooden double‑hung windows and the staff recommendation for approval.
Commission members asked technical questions about materials and visibility of internal jam liners; the chair said she reviewed the window specifications and had no design‑review objection. The staff report required a specific pattern of windows to match historic June 2021 street‑view images; James noted the counts and locations listed in the report and said staff would follow up on final installation details. The commission approved the COA by voice vote.
The action authorizes removal of the nonconforming windows and installation of wooden double‑hung replacements in the locations described in the staff report. The staff follow‑up includes confirming final specs and ensuring the installed pattern matches historic imagery.
