These windows of the old St. Francis Hotel overlook First Avenue. Some 95 windows in the building and adjacent Rhodes Block are to be replaced.
The restoration of the historic St. Francis Hotel is well underway but hit a bump this week when the Albany Landmarks Commission balked at approving the replacement of 95 windows in the 110-year-old building.
On Wednesday the commission had a number of questions and continued a public hearing on the window issue until Oct. 1.
Scott Lepman, who with the city’s help bought the dilapidated landmark building in 2022, is restoring it for residential and commercial use. He secured Landmarks’ approval for “exterior alterations and use of substitute materials” in 2022. That action included a condition to “restore upper story residential windows.”
Restoration proved impractical and Lepman now would like to replace 95 windows with “Jeld-Wen Custom Collection” aluminum-clad wood windows.
The windows are on the upper floors of the St. Francis and the adjacent Rhodes building, both built around 1915 and part of the same property.
In the application, Lepman said that as part of a certification for “federal historic tax credits,” the National Park Service this June approved replacing windows that were beyond repair with the aluminum-clad wood windows made by Jeld-Wen.
But members of the Landmarks Commission wanted more information. As I understood them, the members wondered whether the old windows could be repaired and how much that would cost. One also wanted to see the federal certification.
The Landmarks Commission’s next scheduled meeting is almost a month away, on Oct. 1, so that’s how long a decision on the windows will be delayed.
I tried to follow Wednesday’s Landmarks meeting on a video recording posted on the city’s website here. To get the full flavor of this “historic review” process, you might want to watch it too. (hh)
Here’s what the St. Francis looked like from the corner of First and Ferry on Thursday evening, Sept. 4, 2015.
If Albany Christian School has to deal with this problem, so does Scott Lepman. Else a huge discrimination suit against the City.
Well played Scott.
As somebody who lived in a 60 year old house, repairing wood windows is ridiculous. The cost would be prohibitively expensive and they would not be as energy efficient. Who are these people who serve on the Landmarks commission and what is their expertise in window replacement. We have seen their performance on the old Albany High School building and it appears they should all be driving Model T’s.
All of the people who volunteer to serve on City of Albany advisory boards and commissions are listed on albanyoregon.gov. Their applications for appointment are public record. The Landmarks Commission in particular requires members to have knowledge or expertise in specific areas related to historic preservation. Current members include these: construction, real estate, local history, and historic home owners.
Great Marilyn. Why their love for windows which can’t be rebuilt.
And who decides if they are competent? City officials that have screwed up this town over the last 40 years? The inmates are running the asylum. It reminds me of my high school Algebra teacher who was so senile, she couldn’t solve the Quadratic Equation.
YOU EVER THINK THAT DOWNTOWN RESTO. WILL EVER HAPPEN…THEY’LL FIGHT OVER THIS UNTIL SEPT. 2026….IT’S FUNNY, BUT, NOT FUNNY…..
It’s almost like these clowns want a bunch of run down vacant buildings in downtown Albany.
He needs to replace each one with the wood windows. These look horrible!!
If what you mean by “these” are the windows in the photos, they are the ones the applicant wants to replace.
Old is not necessarily good especially for windows. The important factor is the look of originality from the sidewalk. It appears the committee has found power for the sake of power. Power can corrupt!
The applicant provided incomplete information — not enough for staff and Landmarks Commission to fully do their jobs.
One month in a project of this scope and importance is not a cause for tears — especially when the applicant caused it.
Read FOHA’s letter of Sept. 2, 2025 for the deets on what is missing — plus additional information that suggests there was an attempt to get by with handwaving.
https://friendsofhistoricalbany.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/25.09.02_foha-comments-on-hi-10-25-hi-11-25.pdf