Commission approves removal of rear shed at 10 South Monroe with conditions to return in June

The Coldwater Historic District Commission on May 13 approved removal of a rear shed at 10 South Monroe Street and requested that the applicants return at the commission’s June meeting with specific finish and material selections before proceeding with additional work.

Staff presented HDC-2604 as a partial-demolition, painting, and repair request. The applicants were not present at the meeting, but staff described the rear shed as a later addition that the applicants propose to remove to reopen original window openings and create outdoor seating for a planned first-floor ice cream parlor. Staff said the building shows deterioration at the rear and recommended careful review of materials and masonry repair.

Commission discussion focused on the structural and material questions raised by the proposal: whether the rear shed is non-historic and appropriate to remove, whether replacement windows will fit historic openings, the condition and likely repairs to brick and mortar, and whether vinyl windows are acceptable. A staff member emphasized appropriate mortar selection for masonry repair: “for masonry ... we want to make sure it's a lime mortar that that can crumble and not ... get really hard and bust up the brick.” Commissioners also raised schedule concerns; staff noted that construction should start soon and suggested applicants aim to have construction in progress by July 1.

A commissioner moved to approve removal of the rear shed and require the applicants to return at the June meeting with selections for finishes and materials and to avoid ordering materials prior to that approval. The motion was seconded and the commission voted to approve the demolition with the stated conditions.

The commission’s approval allows the applicants to remove the non-historic rear shed but not to finalize exterior finishes, paint colors or window products until they present specific selections at the June meeting. Staff and commissioners asked that masonry repairs use appropriate lime‑based mortar and that window replacements be high quality and fit existing openings.