Brighton Road Building Exterior Alterations (COA 2600889)

At a glance

• What: Application by the owner of an apartment building on Brighton Road, filed in response to a code violation, covering replacement windows, filled-in air conditioner openings, a front door awning and a wood privacy fence.
• Where it stands: On 10/15/2026 the commission approved the awning (part A) with conditions and continued the rest (part B: windows, fence, air conditioner openings) to the next hearing, November 19, 2026.
• Next: Applicant to work with staff and submit revised drawings, samples and photos.

Proposal and staff position

• Original steel windows were removed and vinyl sliders installed, which are not on the approved windows list (work already done).
• Old wall-cut air conditioner openings in the brick would be filled; the applicant first proposed limestone squares to match the front.
• Existing front awning to be replaced with a larger black awning.
• A 6-foot wood privacy fence was installed and extended beyond what was there before.
• Staff recommended continuing the application so the applicant could update plans after feedback at the October business meeting.

Commission discussion

• Air conditioner openings: Commissioners doubted a brick infill would match (the original brick is a longer, Roman-size iron-spot brick, and mortar and color would differ). McCabe worried that decorative limestone or red infill would read as a medallion that never existed on that wall. Ideas raised: stucco or cast stone infill, and a painted metal louver with a solid insulated back, painted to match downspouts and the fire escape, which commissioners compared to earlier approvals where closed windows got shutters. The applicant said the aim is simply to make the openings weathertight.
• Fence: The guideline is to stop the fence just behind the first window on the side. The applicant, citing break-ins and squatters, proposed covering the last window; commissioners said they have held other applicants to the guideline. Suggested compromise was ending it at a midpoint between the windows, shown on an annotated photo. Staff and commissioners also want building and zoning services to confirm whether a variance is needed because a right-of-way appears along the rear walkway. The fence must be sealed, stained or painted within a year of installation.
• Awning: Commissioners were fine with the larger size and, for this property only, closed sides (a departure from guidelines, noted for the record), with hardware attached at the existing limestone joints.
• Windows: Commissioners said the sliders do not fit the industrial building and that previously approved test-case windows (aluminum frame that reads as steel sash) could be examined; sliders also change the depth and look of the openings.

Decisions

• Part A (awning, up to the existing limestone joint, closed sides allowed, revised materials to staff): approved by voice vote.
• Part B (windows, fence, air conditioner openings): continued by voice vote, to the November 19 hearing.

Sources

• Historic Resources Commission 10/15/2026 meeting video (auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard).

Discussion time

About 40 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Log

• 2026-10-15 - Historic Resources Commission - Awning approved with conditions; windows, fence and air conditioner opening infill continued to November 19.