That is a question that the Landmark Commission of Galveston, Texas, has been pondering a lot lately. It all started when a resident in one of Galveston's historic districts installed a white vinyl fence outside his home. One of the commission's jobs is to write exterior design guidelines for the city's historic districts, with the goal of preserving those neighborhoods' unique characteristics. The last time those guidelines were written, back in 1999, nobody thought of vinyl fencing--much less considered whether faux was fitting for a historic zone.
The resident, it turned out, had failed to get a building permit, a technicality which gave the Landmark Commission a chance this summer to put vinyl on trial. Vinyl defenders touted the material's wood-like look, and argued that it's cheaper to maintain. Opponents argued that vinyl fencing "dumbs down" design, because manufacturers mass-produce it in only a few styles. They also complained that vinyl is not time- tested like wood or iron, and is prone to yellowing and cracking over time. "The look and feel of it is not anything like wood," says Bob Brown, an architect who chaired the commission at the time. "It's noticeable."
The commission decided to ban vinyl fencing from historic districts. Now, it's updating Galveston's guidelines and taking a wider look at other new building materials.
