The Compliance and Technical Advisory Board voted to approve staff recommendations on the application for 1817 East Houston Street, directing the applicant to remove nonhistoric siding, repair the underlying historic siding when possible, and install wood or wood-clad windows on the primary façade.

Staff told the board that the applicants drawings and the verbally stated intent did not match: the submitted elevations showed reduced historic window openings and vinyl window specifications, while the applicant said he intended to repair existing windows and use new windows only on a roughly 300-square-foot rear addition. Staff recommended removing the nonhistoric vinyl and faux-stone cladding, repairing the historic 17 siding in-kind where feasible, and requiring fully wood or wood-clad windows meeting staff standards rather than vinyl.

Applicant Rigo Thomas said he had not realized the process was so detailed and that he and his architect had submitted specifications that included vinyl; he said they were working on updated wood-window specifications. A voicemail from Lulu Francois, chairwoman of the Dignowity Hill Historic Neighborhood Review Committee, supported staffs recommendation and urged preserving the decorative historic window at the front facade.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant multiple clarification questions about the existing siding beneath the nonhistoric cladding, the differences between the drawings and verbal comments, and site visits staff had made since October. Staff explained that the drawings are the binding documents and must be updated to reflect any stipulations the board adopts; the boards motion to approve included the staff recommendations and required the applicant to submit revised specifications to staff for review.

Action: Motion to approve staff recommendations (remove nonhistoric siding, repair or replace historic siding in-kind, require wood or wood-clad windows, do not reduce historic openings). The motion passed on roll call (Flores, Garcia, Brigard, Setzer, Fullerton, Pollock, Vasquez, Sepulveda recorded as Aye).