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8 January 2001 <br />Reading Historical Commission <br />Called to order: 7:30 <br />xttCE! Y ED <br />TOWN CLERK <br />READING. MASS. <br />Attending: Virginia Adams Louise Sandberg Cathy Greenfield 2001 MAR 2b <br />Sharlene Santo Clay Jones Roberta Sullivan <br />Wilbar Hoxie Judith Mitchell Mark Cardono <br />1. Three contractors have contacted the town about reuse of the Old Police <br />Station. Roberta found the 1978 floor plans. Virginia found 1975 slides of the <br />building. Creative Arts still finds the building too expensive. Reading Housing <br />Authority is still considering it. John Hixson, executive director of the RHA, said he <br />was getting an architect to determine the feasibility of using the building. He <br />visualized 3-4 units. The town is in real need of affordable housing. Currently there is <br />only 4% affordable housing in Reading. Next step is to see if the Board of Selectmen <br />will approve the RFP. The Town Manager has negotiated a 90 day extension on the <br />demolition bid. <br />2. Structural engineer is willing to provide services. <br />3. Options for the OPS: Residential is the most likely alternative. Reading <br />Housing Authority would be a very good neighbor; condos are the next and rental <br />properties are the third. First point the addition demolition should be part of the <br />package. The RFP can contain whatever we want it to contain. Roberta prefers only <br />residential, but others including Kathy, Virginia, and Louise would like to leave it open <br />for potential commercial use. What should be the decision on the 1978 addition? Our <br />primary desire is to save the original 1930 structure with a preference for residential <br />use. The building would be for sale and not the land nor the parking in the back. <br />Angelo Saiamone presented letter to the commission. <br />Recessed at 8:00 to attend the Board of Selectmen's meeting. <br />Meeting resumed 9:55 <br />2 members of the commission are to help the town (Russ Dean) develop the RFP and <br />possible restrictions. <br />What needs to be saved? Exterior of course. Leave the windows. If you need to close <br />off a window the shape should still remain. 12 over 12 sashes. Double hung. front <br />steps. No second floor. Unobtrusive structures on roof. Don't paint the brick. Door <br />entablature, but not the door itself. Do we put covenants on it? This would make the <br />new owners aware of the features that are important. Clay, Roberta, and Virginia will <br />compose a letter detailing all the our provisions. <br />Clay suggested that we use $200 of our funds for advertising. Roberta said we should <br />hold off until the RFP is completed and find out how much the ads would cost. Virginia <br />suggested articles in the local papers. Also perhaps pursue national register status. <br />Adjourned: 10:25 Approved March 8, 2001 LS <br />Next meeting Jan. 23 7:30 town hall. <br />A 11= Oq <br />