Heritage Commission Delays Stiefel Theatre Window Decision Over Color Choice
The Salina Heritage Commission on Aug. 5 postponed a decision on a request to replace six second-floor windows on the west-facing Santa Fe Avenue elevation of the historic Fox-Watson Theater, now the Stiefel Theatre, choosing to reconvene later in the month to review a physical color sample.
The application, identified as CA26002, was filed by the Historic Fox Theater of Salina Foundation, Inc. It seeks a certificate of appropriateness to replace windows that staff described as deteriorated beyond repair. According to the applicant, the existing windows allow leakage, air infiltration and moisture, and the replacement is intended to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort inside the theatre.
City staff reported that the existing sash units were installed by the city of Salina in 1996 and are not original historic fabric. A July 8, 2026 technical review from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred with staff's assessment that the units are deteriorated and that the proposed replacement Pella windows would match the general visual qualities of the historic one-over-one wood windows.
Because the theater is listed on both the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places, the review was triggered under state statute KSA 75-2724 rather than by local landmark or historic district status. Staff also applied local zoning ordinance standards and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.
The central unresolved issue was the exterior window color. The applicant proposed a black exterior aluminum cladding to match the building's lower-level storefront windows, while SHPO expressed a preference for a lighter, beige color that more closely relates to the second-floor brick and sills. Commissioners generally favored a lighter color consistent with what would have been originally present, with one noting the black "would stick out too much and not match with the rest of the building."
Commissioners moved to postpone consideration so the applicant, represented by Stiefel technical director Kent Hughes, could provide a physical color swatch or paint chip to compare against the existing window sills. The commission set a continued public hearing for Friday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. Several commissioners noted the meeting would be their last, as their terms end in late August.