Historic Preservation Commission

Owego Historic Preservation Commission Public Meeting DRAFT Minutes 22 Elm Street Owego, NY Thursday October 9th, at 7:00 PM •​ Call to Order/Attendance •​ Attendance: Phoebe Morris (chair), Ira Rosenheck, Jeff Smith(absent), Anne Schaeffer, Kim Trahan, Terri VanHall (Trustee)(absent) •​ Attending Public: Jim Duran, James Strolin, Jill Strolin D •​ Public Comments [none] •​ Approve Minutes from 09/04/25 •​ Discussion: Corrected names & description o​ 1st Morris​ 2nd Rosenheck - unanimously approved R •​ •​ AT Review of COA Applications: o​ #20250807-1 - 358 Main St., James Strolin - window replacement o​ Discussion: o​ Strolin wants to replace a door that opens onto the roof of the front porch with a window. There is no railing or decking on the roof of the front porch so replacing the old french door with a new, lockable sliding door will be safer. The replacement door will be the same size and shape as the original opening and will replicate the existing 6 light french door. Strolin said he is thinking about replacing the other windows in the house. o​ Morris advised we prefer to keep original windows where possible. In order to approve replacing other windows in the house the homeowner needs to prove that those windows are beyond repair or the cost of the repair would be an economic hardship as compared to comparable wood replacement windows. Morris said the committee has reviewed the information that was sent and if Strolin wants to replace more than just the door above the porch he will need to provide proof that the other windows are beyond repair. o​ o​ FOF 1st Schaeffer 2nd Rosenheck - Unanimously approved •​ “Remove the original 6 light french door from above the front porch. Replace with a Renewable by Anderson Acclaim series sliding door with fibrex wood frame. Raise existing opening above porch by 4inches to allow for flashing and new sill. Re-use existing trim on exterior if possible. Replacement trim will replicate existing with in-kind materials. “ o​ COA 1st Schaeffer 2nd Trahan - Unanimously approved •​ •​ o​ #20251009-1 - 272 Main St., Jim & Joan Duran - roof & chimney repairs o​ Discussion: o​ Duran said they are planning on replacing the roof, they will need to re-deck the roof with plywood as the original decking is just boards with large gaps between them. The chimney is pulling away from the house and we were thinking of removing the chimney entirely. o​ Morris advised that the chimney is a significant feature of the house that needs to be preserved. Smith advised that the decorative brick work on the top of the chimney is the most important to preserve. Morris advised the homeowner that when replacing the roof the board suggests using architectural shingles and that the gutter straps should be placed under the shingles. Advised homeowner on the historic tax credit. o​ D o​ FOF 1st Schaeffer 2nd Trahan - Unanimously approved •​ “Repair & repoint chimney re-secure chimney to house. Remove several courses of brick and rebuild chimney replicating existing decorative brickwork using appropriate historic mortar. Add plywood sheathing to the roof deck. Repair rotted decking and soffit with in-kind materials. Remove and replace asphalt shingles with asphalt architectural shingles. Replace rubber roofing, repair existing yankee R gutters. Replace existing exterior gutters with new gutters.“ o​ COA 1st Trahan 2nd Rosenheck - Unanimously approved •​ •​ o​ #20251009-2 - 72 North Ave., Christina Di Stefano, TAC - Mural (Moondog) AT o​ Discussion: o​ Di Stefano said IJM properties has agreed to put a mural on the side of their building. Louis Thomas Hardin (1916-1999) was a musician known as Moondog who lived in Candor and often traveled to Owego to take the bus to NYC. He was known to perform his original compositions on Sixth Ave in NYC in full Viking regalia and had many connections to downtown Owego. The mural artist, Michelle Schleider, is proposing a portrait of Moondog with his troubadour harp and daffodils. It will be painted on a 12 x 8ft plywood piece which will be hung to the north side of the building at 72 North ave, facing the current parking lot. o​ o​ FOF 1st Schaeffer 2nd Trahan - Unanimously approved •​ “Mural of Moondog on a 12ft X 8ft backing attached to the brick on the north side of the building, facing a parking lot. The mural is on a backing of MDO marine plywood which will be attached to the mortar of the brick wall with non corrosive anchor screws/bolts.” o​ COA 1st Trahan 2nd Rosenheck - Unanimously approved •​ •​ o​ #20240711-1c - 81 North Ave., Tioga County Property Development - addendum o​ Discussion: o​ Sara Zubalsky-Peer requested an addendum to the existing permit to change wording  from ‘standing seam metal roof’ to ‘asphalt shingled roof’. The contractor was unable to bend the standing seam roof to match the existing curve of the roof and asked to replace the asphalt shingles with new shingles. Morris said the project is having an open house and everyone is invited to come see what has been done tomorrow between 4 & 6pm. o​ o​ FOF 1st Trahan 2nd Rosenheck - Unanimously approved •​ “Replace existing shingles on the front facade with new standing seam metal asphalt shingles. ” o​ COA 1st Schaeffer 2nd Rosenheck - Unanimously approved •​ •​ •​ Informal discussion of any past approved COA project progress and potential upcoming COA reviews [none] D •​ New Business [none] •​ Old Business [none] •​ Commissioner reports [none] •​ Chair report •​ Morris asked the commissioners to please email what continuing education sessions R they attended this year as she is putting together the annual CLG report. •​ Public Comments [none] •​ Adjourn 7:55 pm Next OHPC meeting on Thursday, November 6th, 2025 at 7 PM AT