Downtown Albion’s historic character is facing challenges from construction work that is allegedly bypassing the village’s review process, according to the Historic Preservation Commission. During a brief meeting Thursday evening, commission members voiced concerns over several properties where significant exterior work seems to have been completed—or is currently underway—without the necessary certificates of appropriateness. The discussion highlighted a friction between maintaining the village’s 19th-century architectural heritage and the ongoing revitalization of its building stock. Chairwoman Mary Anne Braunbach and the commission members discussed specific instances of non-compliance. The minutes identify buildings owned by Angel Javier and Frank Corso as particular areas of focus. According to the minutes, the commission noted window work being done on Javier’s property. Additionally, the board discussed fire escape modifications at the buildings owned by Corso. The Old Sugar Bowl and Beaver Alley sections of the village were also flagged. Braunbach noted suspicious activity in the Beaver Alley area and specifically requested that the Village Codes Department check on interior progress at a building owned by Ms. Pooley. The issue of property owners making alterations without seeking HPC approval is a recurring theme for the commission. The board is tasked with safeguarding the village’s status as a Certified Local Government (CLG), a designation that provides access to state and federal historic preservation grants. Ensuring that work done in the historic district adheres to Secretary of the Interior standards is a requirement of maintaining that certification. On the topic of certification, Tim McMurray, a member of the commission, announced he will attend the upcoming Village Board meeting on October 23. McMurray stated he intends to present correspondence to the board to officially obtain the CLG certification on behalf of the HPC. Securing this formal designation from the Village Board would strengthen the commission’s ability to advocate for preservation standards. The commission also took care of routine administrative business, voting to accept the minutes from their previous meeting on September 19, 2024. A motion to accept was made by Linda Smith and seconded by Courtney Henderson; it carried unanimously. The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. and adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Other members present included Dan Conrad. The commission’s next scheduled meeting date was not explicitly listed in the provided minutes.