Kalamazoo’s Historic District Commission approved four exterior projects on October 20, including a rebuilt porch, a new backyard house and two window changes.
The commission reviews exterior work on both historic and non-historic buildings in the city’s local historic districts. It issues a Certificate of Appropriateness when a project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation and the city’s local guidelines.
Porch on Oak Street
A contractor presented plans to rebuild a porch with cedar lap siding on the front gable. Commissioners noted that the previous porch had an ornamental scalloped look. They asked that the rebuilt gable match it, citing the federal standard that a new feature replacing a distinctive one should match the old in design, color and texture. The commission approved the project on the condition that the gable have scalloped siding. City staff said they would provide written documentation of the approved details.
Small house on Academy Street
A commission member who designed the project presented it as the applicant and recused himself from the vote. The small house would sit at the back of a large, wooded lot near Kalamazoo College and would house two sets of in-laws. It is designed with lap siding, asphalt shingles and windows with grilles to echo nearby historic homes. The commission noted that no historic structure would be removed. The project needs a size variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which is separate from the commission’s review. The city’s Historic Preservation Coordinator, Luis Pena, said that if zoning requirements force substantial design changes, the applicant would return to the commission.
Windows on Douglas Avenue
The owner of a rear outbuilding replaced three windows with vinyl windows without first seeking approval, then asked the commission to review the work after the fact. The owner said the original wood was badly rotted. Staff said a 1908 map shows a narrower structure in that spot, that the current building first appears on a 1930s map, and that it is not a defining feature of the 1889 Queen Anne-style house in front. The commission approved the windows.
Shower window on Woodward Avenue
The owners of a three-unit rental asked to replace a fixed window in a first-floor shower with glass block, saying water had damaged the window. The window is hard to see from the street. The opening will become shorter but not wider, so the original window could be reinstalled later, and the owners plan to keep it. The siding will be cut back and tied in. The commission approved the project.
What owners should know
Applicants who receive approval may still need building permits. Information on the local guidelines and a map of the local historic districts is available on the city’s website.
The full meeting is available to watch on Public Media Network.
