HARB recommends COA for façade repairs at 513 Sweet Street; architect may bid multiple window options

The Norristown Historical Architecture Review Board recommended that municipal council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for work at 513 Sweet Street, with conditions to preserve and repair existing wood windows and trim.

Amy Beatty of Landmarks, participating by phone, described a project under the North-South Historic Façade Program to stabilize and refurbish second- and third-floor wood windows, repair sills and jambs, restore the projecting side bay, and repaint trim in a light snow shade. Beatty presented a circa-1960 photograph showing that the building's first-floor configuration had been altered in the past; the design team proposed to retain original glazing where feasible and to match any replacement pieces to existing profiles.

For a third-floor window that currently houses a through-window air-conditioning unit the team asked permission to include three options in bidding: retain and refurbish the current unit opening; replace the unit opening with a custom wood 2-over-2 window to match other floors (board preference); or install an aluminum-clad wood window. Board members agreed to permit all three options for bidding so the applicant could get pricing, while expressing a preference for the custom wood replacement if budget allows.

A motion to recommend a COA carried after members specified conditions: deteriorated wood elements must be repaired (Dutchman repairs or in-kind replacement), jambs and sills repaired, interior and exterior trim scraped and painted, the sign band retained or repaired, and the third-floor AC-window addressed under the permitted options, with preference for option 2. The board noted grant funding constraints and advised the applicant to price options accordingly and return with final material selections at contract stage.

The board's recommendation will be forwarded to municipal council for final action and permitting.