HPC denies asphalt shingle roof at 560 Ridgewood Avenue, leaves door open to synthetic slate

Glen Ridge's Historic Preservation Commission denied an application at its November 1, 2023 meeting from Gaytha Kraushar to replace the slate roof at 560 Ridgewood Avenue with asphalt shingles. Chair Geoffrey Darby noted the commission cannot weigh cost in its decisions, and after lengthy discussion about the rarity of slate roofs in the historic district and concern about setting a precedent, the commission denied the asphalt request but said it would accept a quality synthetic slate product instead, calling the decision narrow and specific to this house. Jeff Link abstained; the rest of the commission voted to deny the asphalt shingles.

Two other applications passed with abstentions rather than unanimous support. At 51 High Street, the commission approved a revised attic-raising and dormer plan for Luke Franklin and Nicole Little after the architect lowered the proposed ridge height by a foot from a prior version; Joaquin Stearns abstained, saying he still had concerns about the roof's relationship to neighboring homes. At 69 High Street, the commission approved replacing jalousie windows with double-hung sashes referencing a 1908 historic photo, with the windows raised to match first-floor window heights; Christine Yewaisis abstained, citing insufficient exterior elevation drawings in the submission. A third application, a screened porch conversion at 40 High Street, was continued to a future meeting after commissioners objected to its vertical siding and window proportions.

In old business, the commission learned the Borough Council's first reading of proposed historic-preservation ordinance changes contained contradictory language and would need a second reading. Separately, the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office told the commission its own audit found the HPC well-run.

What to watch

• A second reading of the historic-preservation ordinance changes before the Borough Council was planned for November 11, 2023.
• 40 High Street's screened-porch application is expected to return with revised siding and window details.