Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-12 Historical Commission Minutes% N iYr Hl:1D Town of Reading 3 y Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2014 -08 -12 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street August 12, 2014 Purpose: Regularly scheduled meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM DECEIVED TOWN CLERK ;DING. MASS. 2514 SEP IS P 61 1@ Location: Town Hall Conference Room Chair: Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS) Treasurer: Secretary: Carl Midnight (CM) Robyn Parker (RP) Virginia Adams (VA) Ron Weston (RW) Jonathan Barnes (JB) Members - Not Present: Nancy Kohl (NK) Sally Hilgendorff (SH) Others Present: Mary Ellen O'Neill Cynda Rohmer Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Carl Topics of Discussion: SKe Visit The RHC members had asite visit to 166 Summer Avenue prior to the meeting. Call to Order August 12, 2014 at 6:30 pm. Minutes No update. Budget No update. Archwes No update. Demolition CM submitted a change to the Bylaw to be placed on the warrant Delay Bylaw for the September 29 Town Meeting. This was done without the required vote by the members of the RHC; therefore, this article was withdrawn. This item will be discussed at a future Meeting. 01867 Mary Ellen O'Neill and Cynda Rohmer attended the meeting to Neighborhood explain that the Association was planning an information campaign. Preservation They feel that many in Reading do not understand the tools that exist to preserve historic homes in Reading. The 01867 Neighborhood Preservation is planning a meeting, where they will Invite the public, the Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting members, and other concerned citizens. In addition, they will be setting up an information booth at Fall Street Faire. Page I 1 Library In response to the Reading Public Library Building Committee (LBC), the RHC prepared a letter providing the Library project with a limited endorsement. The letter included the reasons for the limited endorsement. RP motioned to approve the letter, as amended and have it sent to the Building Committee. SRS seconded the motion. The RHC members voted unanimously to approve the letter, as amended. Send letter to the LBC SRS West Street VA reported that the WSHD Commission was sponsoring the Historical inclusion of the properties on Summer Avenue from Woburn Street District to Glen Road. VA also mentioned that the 01867 Neighborhood (WSHD) Update Preservation was involved with creating the Historic District on Summer Avenue. The process for creating this new District is 1. The West Street Historic District Commission votes to approve and send a preliminary report on the effort to the Massachusetts Historical Commission. 2. The Massachusetts Historical Commission acknowledges receipt of the report. 3. The Reading Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) reviews the report. 4. The Massachusetts Historical Commission meets in September to review the report. 5. A 60-day period must pass before a required public hearing. 6. A Town Meeting two- thirds vote creates the District. 7. The Massachusetts Attorney General performs a review before enactment. 186 Summer The RHC discussed the site visit held prior to the August 12, 2014, Write CM Avenue Site RHC meeting at 5:00 pm and attended by: Sharlene Reynolds letter to SRS Visit Santo (RHC), Cad Midnight (RHC), Robyn Parker (RHC), Virginia Criterion Adams (RHC), Ron Weston (RHC), Jonathan Bames (RHC), Marc and send Maxwell (Architect), John Fernandez (Attorney), Bobbie Botticelli as soon (Realtor), Priscilla Fitzgerald (Realtor), Debra Shontz - Stackpole as (Owner), John Williams (photographer). possible The RHC felt that the overall condition of the home was much better than indicated on the inspection report. The RHC concluded the structure appeared to be sound and that the building could be renovated. The RHC had planned to attend the site visit along with an engineer or architect to assist in its evaluation of the structure. However, the RHC was denied this request via an email from M.Maxwell: Page 12 Awnue Site FmmMawell Amhiteds To: hisVisit - uxical @ci.reading. ma.us; Sharlene Reynolds Santo continued CC: Criterion attorneys Subject: RHC Site visit to 186 Summer Avenue The Owner of 186 Summer Ave. Reading asked me to assure her instructions for Tuesday's visit to her home are explicit. 1. Only certified member; of RHC will be allowed. We believe there are no more than 5 including associares. 2. NO pictures are allowed other than by Criterion reps. 3. RHC members must stay with owner /owners rep at all times. 4. Absolutely no engineer, architect or any other guests OF RHC will be allowed in or on property. Thank you for adhering to these limitations required by the Homeowner. We look toward to seeing you and the RHC members on Tuesday. regards, Mom Marc A. Maxwell, ALA Maxwell Architects, LLC 20 Windom Street Somerville, MA 02144 617.666.9222 office 617.275.1694 cell 617.666.4557 fax The parties exchanged additional email correspondence prior to the site visit, attempting to reconcile their positions with regards to inviting an engineer or architect to the site visit. RHC was unable to secure such a subject matter expert on this date and on short notice. Despite the different opinions about an RHC expert participating in such a site visit. RHC reserved its rights to do so in this and similar matters. The RHC is of the view that preserving the structures on the site for residential use within that neighborhood setting would best serve the Town's and that neighborhood's historic values and interests. RHC recognizes, however, that the owner's current application before it provides for conversion to a Criterion Child Enrichment facility, and it's possible that the home may be converted for such use. The preferred residential scenario is not part of RHC's obligation to collaborate with the owner regarding the current application before RHC. As it is required by the Demolition Delay Bylaw, the RHC must, therefore, work with Criterion to preserve as many elements of the structure as possible. At the conclusion of the site visit, Criterion requested that the RHC communicate the historic elements of the home and barn that should be preserved. To that end, the RHC voted to craft a letter to Criterion's representative, Marc Maxwell, listing the Preservation only works when we remember it is all about: People — Planning — Partnerships— Politics. Meeting Date: August 12, 2014 Page 1 3 � OF@ O F Town of Reading " $ 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01887 -2883 ,PS9: IHCORPOPP HISTORICAL COMMISSION (781) 942 -6661 historical ci.reading.ma.us August 11, 2014 Reading Public Library Building Committee 64 Middlesex Avenue Reading, MA 01867 To Whom It May Concern: The Reading Historical Commission (RHC) remains supportive of the library building and restoration project. The RHC recognizes and appreciates the hard work and planning that the Building Committee and many others have done to bring about this much needed update to the Reading Public Library. However, there are several areas of concern to the RHC, they are as follows: Exterior 1) The width of the north side roadway, up to thirty feet wide where the five parking spaces are planned, will decrease the size of the lawn and interfere with the view of the historic structure. However, after a safety review of the property, it was determined the width of the roadway was required to accommodate emergency vehicles. The RHC accepts the necessity of the increased width of the roadway and recommends the following mitigation strategies: a) The Building Committee have time to plan and to design shrubbery and other natural elements to mask the north side roadway. b) The RHC encourages the Building Committee to take another look at removing the five planned parking spaces. The RHC believes the parking spaces are an unnecessary intrusion to the historic structure for the following three reasons: (1) When program space increases, as is planned for the Reading Public Library, the usual response is to add more parking to accommodate the program space increase. Both the RHC and the Library Trustees contend that the five planned spaces are a small percentage of the total number of spaces, especially given the on street parking spaces available. (2) Additionally, the Trustees mentioned that a shuttle service already exists to move people from the parking spaces by the train tracks along High Street to the Library should more spaces be needed to accommodate an event at the library. (3) Finally, the people in the surrounding neighborhood were surveyed, and they did not object to short-term street parking during events at the library. 2) The porte cochere does not appear sensitively designed from a historical perspective. It appears too large and bulky. While the Building Committee commented that the large windows will allow the original entrance to be seen from outside and are intended to provide a light touch and not obscure the original building, the alternative construction add -on for use of the porte - cochere lacks details, so the members of the RHC cannot support it at this time. 3) While the RHC would have liked to see the new library windows constructed of wood, the practicality of modem windows outweighs the use of older materials for reasons of high - energy efficiency and low maintenance costs. The RHC agrees to this design element. Interior 1) The RHC inquired if staircases could continue to be used. As the staircases are showing wear from 100 years of use and current codes require enclosed staircases, the RHC agrees to this design element. 2) The RHC objects to the design that includes varnished oak shelving and cabinets for historical artifacts. Oak is highly acidic and not appropriate for delicate historical materials. The design team will look into other more appropriate shelving and cabinet materials. While the RHC understands the complex nature of the library project, it also must voice its concerns regarding areas that detract from fully restoring this historic gem to the way it was when it began its life as a library. Therefore, the RHC would like to submit this limited endorsement of the current Reading Public Library Project. Sincerely, Reading Historical Commission QYtH oPRtgoi y. � S s�9'INCpPQ�PP Marc A. Maxwell, AIA Maxwell Architects, LLC 20 Windom Street Somerville, MA 02144 Dear Marc, Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 -2683 HISTORICAL COMMISSION historical @ ci xeading.ma.us (781) 942 -6661 Fax (781) 942 -6071 August 18, 2014 The Reading Historical Commission (RHC) would like to thank you for facilitating the site visit at 186 Summer Avenue this past Tuesday. It was helpful to get a first hand look at the property as well as meeting many of those involved with this project. We also appreciated the insight the owner, Debra Shontz - Stackpole shared regarding the history of the home and the hard work she put into preserving the property. While the RHC is of the view that preserving the structures for residential use within that neighborhood setting would best serve the Town's and that neighborhood's historic values and interests, RHC recognizes that the owner's current application before it provides for conversion to a Criterion Child Enrichment facility. As a result, that residential scenario is not part of our collaboration with the applicant. However, we do look forward to collaborating with you and Criterion in retaining key the historical elements in a new facility designed for Criterion Child Enrichment. As you have requested, we include in this letter a listing of the historical elements that the RHC deems most important to include in the design of the future facility. The RHC would like to see the following exterior historical elements at 186 Summer Avenue preserved: 1. Retain and reuse fagade of the structures (house & barn) as they appeared when first built, including the posts and railings that envelope three sides of the building (the later addition on the back of the structure has little historical value in light of the rest of the building). 2. The cupola should be retained, as it is a distinctive feature that complements both the house and the grounds. 3. New construction should be attached to the back using some design elements from the original structure, but it should not be a duplication for the new structure should be easily identifiable as such. 4. The exterior chimney, while modified in the 1980's is also a unique feature of the home that should be preserved. The RHC, would like to submit some suggestions for preserving the interior elements, as follows: 1. The first Floor collection of rooms, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, are all candidates for preservation. These rooms retain much of the character of homes built in 1850's New England. 2. The inside access to the cupola is also an element the RHC believes should be retained as it offers a wonderful view of the grounds and the neighborhood. 3. Interior main stairway, original Flooring, molding, fireplace and built in's. The RHC looks forward to receiving the photographs John took last week and the video tape to be created in the future. The RHC also recognizes the hard work and planning that you have already put into this project. We hope to continue to work with you in a spirit of cooperation to meet your needs while preserving a part of the history of Reading that makes it such a unique community. Respectfully, Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Chair Reading Historical Commission