Board allows vinyl windows on 429 Fairmont with condition to match historic profile

The Board of Architectural Review considered BAR 26-100, asking to replace existing aluminum-and-wood windows with vinyl windows of similar light patterns at 429 Fairmont Street. The house is a 1950s-era contributing resource in the district; members agreed that the board "would prefer wood" on front-facing facades but noted that some surrounding structures already have vinyl and that the existing dormer and trim complicate a strict wood-only requirement.

To balance preservation goals and practical constraints, the board approved the vinyl replacement with an explicit condition: the new windows must match the existing profile and muntin pattern so the front façade reads consistently with the historic character. Chair David summed up the tension: "I would prefer the wood on the front, but I'm one vote," and the motion to approve with the profile/muntin condition carried. Staff will record the condition in the certificate of appropriateness and advise the applicant on acceptable manufacturer profiles.