Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Penfield historic board approves front-window replacements at 1895 Penfield Road, requires shutters be retained
Summary
The Penfield Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved a proposal to replace 10 front-facing windows at 1895 Penfield Road with Renewal by Andersen composite windows, conditioned on retaining existing, non-vinyl shutters. The homeowner was not present; a company representative answered questions about dimensions, repair options and aesthetics.
The Penfield Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved on Aug. 6 a request to replace 10 front-facing windows at 1895 Penfield Road, conditioned on preserving any existing shutters and avoiding vinyl replacements.
Calvin, a representative of Renewal by Andersen who appeared for homeowner Eileen Reese, told the board the house was built in 1835 and several windows are deteriorated. "Eileen lives in a house built in 1835," Calvin said, and described Renewal by Andersen's composite Fibrex material as giving "a very similar aesthetic as a wood window" while offering lower maintenance. He added that the company has secured approvals for the product from preservation boards in nearby municipalities.
Committee members pressed for technical details, including jamb and sash depths and whether the windows would be custom-made to fit the existing frames. A member asked whether repair had been explored rather than replacement; one committee member said, based on the photos, the existing windows appeared "100% repairable," and urged the board to consider documented repair attempts before approving wholesale replacement. Calvin urged that, in many cases, old single-pane windows are inefficient and that Renewal by Andersen can order replacement sashes if parts fail: "If she broke the glass, we would come and just replace the bottom sash," he said.
Board members also discussed shutters visible in an historical photograph of the house. Several members said where original shutters remain they should be retained and not replaced with plastic or vinyl. The board added a condition to the approval requiring that existing shutters remain and that any replacement shutters be custom-made and operable with traditional hardware.
A committee member moved to approve the application with that condition; another committee member seconded. Chair Tom Combs announced the vote as unanimous.
The homeowner, Eileen Reese, was not present at the meeting. Board members noted she may return to the board for future approvals if she pursues window work on the sides or rear of the house.
