Architect says revised rectangular windows better match Saint Alphonsus school; commission approves change

The commission approved revisions to the window configuration at 502 Jackson Avenue, a project for Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, after the church's design team presented smaller rectangular windows to better match surrounding buildings. Staff told commissioners the feature had been previously approved in 2025 and the Board of Aldermen had approved the earlier design in June 2025; the current proposal reduces the window scale and removes an overhead transom that had been included in the earlier approval.

"After meeting with the church committees, they would like to make these smaller rectangular windows more in keeping with what's on the school and what's going on either side of the front door of the church," said Jennifer Bluff, architect with Allred Architectural Group (Speaker 5). Bluff said the change brings "the scale of the windows down and making them… instead of archtop."

A committee member moved to approve the revised configuration for the previously approved covered entry on the west side of the building along Jackson Avenue; commissioners voted in favor by voice vote. Staff noted packet images that illustrate the previously approved archtop openings and the proposed rectangular windows.

The commission's approval will be processed through the standard follow-up steps required for certificates of appropriateness.