The Historic and Design Review Commission approved a package of work Wednesday for a commercial conversion at 901 North Alamo, allowing wholesale replacement of recently installed windows with a condition that the applicant install wood or aluminum-clad wood windows or otherwise add trim to better approximate a historic appearance.

What the owner proposed: The property owner, who plans an eating-and-drinking establishment, asked for replacement of non-original windows, installation of fiber-cement lap siding with a 4.5–5 inch reveal, and a 12-foot chain-link fence at the rear to enclose a pickleball court. The owner said the existing historic-era windows were no longer present; staff confirmed the windows in the primary footprint are not original and were installed within the last 20 years.

Discussion and stipulations: Staff’s written recommendation favored a wood or clad-wood window product, but the applicant said budget and breakage risk at a ground-floor, high-activity bar made vinyl a practical option. During the hearing the applicant agreed to add additional exterior trim to the new windows and to paint the nonhistoric white portions to reduce visual contrast; staff also stipulated the fiber-cement siding be installed with a 4.5–5 inch reveal and that the fence be limited to the pickleball perimeter with required street setbacks.

Commission reaction and vote: Several commissioners referenced the building’s degraded condition and the economics of rehabilitating the shell. After discussion the commission approved the package and recorded a roll-call vote in favor. Staff will verify the final window trim details and paint scheme prior to permit issuance.

Why it matters: The decision balances preservation standards with the owner’s goal to re-open a commercial use in a deteriorated building; commissioners and staff required design mitigations to reduce the visual impact of nonhistoric elements.

Ending: The owner can proceed to permitting, subject to the Commission’s stipulations on window trim, siding reveal and fence placement; staff will review the final shop drawings before issuing any certificates of appropriateness or building permits.