Vinyl windows given OK for alley install; residents offer complaints about parking in the borough
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
KENNETT SQUARE — Sometimes, it’s better to be warm, safe and energy efficient than historically accurate.
Borough Council moved Monday night to overrule the borough’s Architectural Review Board and allow the installation of vinyl windows at the Kennett Senior Area Center Book Store — despite objections that the new windows aren’t period accurate to the building.
Representatives of the Kennett Area Senior Center made the appeal in order to have its aging windows replaced with newer vinyl windows on the alley side portion of the building on the second floor. The initial request was rejected due to the fact that vinyl materials do not match the period in which the building was built and was opposed by the Historical Commission, which seeks to preserve the historical integrity of buildings in Kennett Square.
Ron Dungey of the Senior Center spoke on behalf of the proposed change, “The windows are in very bad shape,” he said, “I have been trying the best I can for almost a year now to patch them up and put braces on them, but they’re just beyond repair. It’s just unsafe for the residents.”
Dungey went on to explain that the removal of the ailing windows with vinyl replacements would also serve to enhance energy efficiency within the building. He also elaborated on the cost effectiveness of the vinyl windows, “The reason we’re looking at vinyl is the cost; the senior center doesn’t have the kind of money it takes to replace the really top grade [historically correct] wood windows,” he said.
“We try our best to keep the building looking the way it always has,” Dungey concluded, “we have no intention of altering the facade or anything like that. It’s going to look the same way it always has, just with different material.”
The council approved unanimously the change of windows.
In other borough news, the council appointed Hillary Holland Davis and Elizabeth D’Wolf to the Zoning Hearing Board and the Historical Commission respectively.
Also brought up was a waiver for parking fees was filed by the owner of the property on 102 East State Street. The ordinance to apply parking fees to all businesses within the historic district was enacted in January of this year and thus was not factored in to the current property owner’s business expenses.
“I think that out of fairness, the fee should be waived,” Kennett Square Borough Council President David B. Miller said.
The council deliberated over the decision eventually passing the waiver with a 4-3 outcome.
Finally the floor was opened to public comment.
“This council distresses me at times,” borough resident John R. Thomas said.
“You’re going to force us to have another parking garage aren’t you?” he continued, “you just said that it wasn’t fair for these people…but be fair to the citizens, make it so that the employees should park in the garage and pay a fee.”
“You’re going to spend our money because you’re going to tax us,” Thomas said referring to the potential hike in cost of upkeep for increased use of the concrete parking garage located in Kennett Square.
“Where is the fairness to us?” Thomas asked, “You’ll spend twenty minutes arguing about two windows and spend five minutes giving fifteen waivers out. All I want is you to be fair. You say it’s not fair, but what about the taxpayers?”
“We are here and we do count,” Thomas concluded.
