Heritage Commission Approves Windows, Roof; Tables Deck Project

By MARK EVANS

mevans@stegenherald.com

After denying an LED sign to the Church of Ste. Genevieve on Jan. 25, the Ste. Genevieve Heritage Commission approved a pair of requests for certificates of appropriateness for one property owner and tabled another request.

The commission was also updated on a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) grant to put on a workshop.

NORTH FIFTH WORK APPROVED

Steve Wallen requested certificates to replace an existing asbestos tile roof with a standing-seam, hidden-fastener metal roof on a house at 118 N. 5th Street. He also requested a certificate to replace the existing wooden windows with white vinyl windows on the circa 1900 home.

“The windows in it right now are just really in poor shape,” Wallen said. He added that they are “split in a lot of places” and could not feasibly be repaired.

Commission member Frank Myers noted that the Design Guidelines for the Ste. Genevieve National Register Historic District prefer existing windows to be repaired if possible. He asked how the replacement windows would compare to the existing ones. If they cannot be, then replacing them with a like material is the preferred action.

“To me, they look like a painted window from the distance,” Wallen said, adding that the current windows woodwork is painted white.

“The building is a significant building,” Myers said. “We should not be doing anything that alters its appearance.”

He asked what the windows are. Wallen said most of the windows in the oldest part of the house are of two-over-two design.

Wallen said he is “open for any design” the commission favored, as long as the windows were energy-efficient.

“I just want to get good windows in the house and make it a good-looking house,” Wallen said, when asked to explain his plan. “If it’s feasible to put wooden windows in, if they’re purchasable, I would do that. I don’t know where you would get them.”

“All I’m suggesting is that, if you’re replacing all of the windows, they should be, as nearly as possible, as we can determine, what was in the house originally because it is a rather good house,” Myers said.

Wallen said he didn’t know what the original windows were, since the house has been added onto over the years.

David Bova, community development administrator, said that it appears the two-over-two windows are the oldest windows on the house.

Wallen said the windows would be the same size as the current ones.

Wallen said he always uses Silver Line windows, but admitted that this will be the first historic property he has worked on and that “some of this is new to me.”

Bova added that the house had been “vacant, uninhabited and in significantly deteriorated” condition and that “improvements are definitely welcome.”

“It is nice to see someone fixing it,” Bova added.

“I agree,” Myers said. “It’s just that while we are doing it … We have a pretty good description. It was surveyed  and was determined to be a valuable building. So we should try to keep it that way.”

He said he didn’t understand why vinyl windows were picked, but said the configuration should definitely match.

Bova said that stipulation could be added to the certificate.

“Anything that is going to protect the house is good,” commission member Lee Ann Waldvogel said. “And as long as you’re not going to change the window openings in any way.”

Eventually, a motion was made and passed 3-1 to grant a certificate with the spoliation that all of the windows be of two-over-two design.

Myers voted against it, saying he thought it should also have been stipulated that the windows be double-pane so that storm windows are not needed. Wallen said he fully intends to get double-paned windows.

The metal roof  was passed with less discussion.

Myers asked if the wood under the current roof is in decent condition. Wallen said three by one-inch strips are used now and that it has allowed squirrels to get in. He said the old material would be removed.

Wallen said the wood itself, with a few areas, is in good shape.

Bova suggested that it may be the original roof.

“We’ll going to pull all the shingles off the then we’ll go, put decking on top  of the three-by-one wood strips and then the metal roof will go on top of the deck,” Wallen explained.

It passed 4-0.

ABSENT OWNER LEADS TO TABLING

The final request was to  construct a deck on the front of a house at 419 Roberts Street. Since the owner was not present to answer several questions the members had, and detailed drawings were not submitted, the request was tabled until the  February meeting.