The University of Iowa Chi Omega sorority is appealing a denied request from the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission to add new windows to its historic house.

Despite previously receiving permission from the city to install new windows on the upper level of the building, which is located on 804 Iowa Ave., the sorority’s request to replace windows on the main level was denied. The commission ordered the existing windows to be refurbished due to the home’s historic relevance. The commission declined the sorority’s window replacement because the windows are in good condition and only need repairs.

The sorority house must meet the guidelines outlined in section 4.13 of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Handbook.

The recommended fix was too costly, the sorority wrote in the appeal. The sorority wants to add high-quality windows from a company, Pella, with tilt-in sashes to allow for easier future maintenance.

Kirk Lehmann, a secretary for the Iowa City Board of Adjustment, said the most recent appeal to the board took place in 2021.

“To be honest, appeals are pretty rare,” Lehmann said. “Usually, it’s tied to harm to property, and surrounding property owners are the ones who file it.”

The handbook recommends that historic homes repair windows before replacing them to protect the building’s architectural character. Properties are not allowed to install modern windows, including sliding, awning, casement, and bay windows.

The appeal will go before the city’s Board of Adjustment, which will act as a jury to determine whether the Historic Preservation Commission justly exercised its powers.

The board may reverse, modify, or affirm the commission’s decision. If the board agrees with the commission and Chi Omega chooses to appeal the decision further, it will go to Johnson County District Court.

Lehmann said the board would be overseeing the appeal because the sorority house’s location is within the city’s College Hill Conservation District. Compared to historic preservation districts, conservation districts have fewer designated historical properties within their neighborhoods.

While Lehmann said historical districts typically have stricter regulations tied to them, buildings in both districts must request approval from the city’s Historic Preservation Commission to make any exterior changes.

“We tend to deal more with special exceptions, which are uses allowed within the code that require additional oversight,” Lehmann said.

After multiple attempts by The Daily Iowan, Chi Omega and the Historical Preservation Commission both declined to comment on the appeal.

The city anticipates holding a public hearing for the appeal on March 8 at 5:15 pm in City Hall’s Emma J. Harvat Hall. The Board of Adjustment will release a packet confirming the location and time of the hearing either the week before or early on during the week of the hearing.