The Winchester City Board of Architectural Review approved the demolition of a deteriorating shed at 703 South Loudoun Street but tabled a decision on replacing three garage doors attached to the property, the board decided during the meeting.

Applicant Susan Gates described the shed as weather-damaged with roof leaks and said the space would be cleared for landscaping or future use. The board reviewed historical Sanborn maps and earlier board actions and found that the shed had been previously evaluated; a prior demolition approval had expired when the previous owner did not follow through. Staff recapped that earlier review and said most visible siding on the shed appeared to be modern replacement material, limiting its historical significance.

The garage building, historically a blacksmith shop, retains a three-bay facade. The center bay has already been replaced with a factory-finished steel door after vandalism; Gates requested the board approve replacing the remaining two doors with steel doors to match the center door. Several board members expressed a preference for wooden doors on this pre-1947 building, noting a similar earlier local denial of a metal-door request at another nearby property. Members also raised concerns about color and visual compatibility.

Given the mixed views and the applicant's need to explore wooden-door options and vendors, the board voted to approve the shed demolition (based on the prior finding that the shed lacks preserved historic fabric) and to table the garage-door replacement to allow the applicant time to return with additional options, samples and cost information. Staff will notify the applicant about the board's guidance for resubmission.