HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-09 Historical Commission MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
RECEIVED
OWN CLERK all,
EADING. MASS.
Board - committee - Commission - Council: j0i5 JAN ) 3 A ��
Historical Commission December 9, 2014
Date: 2014 -12 -09 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Town Hall Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Regularly scheduled meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair: Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS)
Treasurer: Sally Hilgendorff (SH)
Ron Weston (RW), Virginia Adams (VA)
Jonathan Barnes (JB)
Members - Not Present:
Carl Mittnight (CM), Robyn Parker (RP), Nancy Kohl (NK)
Others Present:
Dan Couet, Mark Maxwell (MM), Robert Littleton (RL),
Kathy Greenfield (KG), Jerry Lamb, Everett Blodgett, Virginia Blodgett
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Carl Mittnight
Topics of Discussion:
Sub ect
Call to Order
7:30 pm
Minutes
The meeting minutes for 10/28/14 and 11/18/14 were
File with
CM
unanimously approved as amended by the RHC.
Town Clerk
Budget
SRS moved to spend up to $75.00 for office /amhive
supplies. SH seconded. The vote was 3 -0 in favor.
Archives
No update.
Membership
No changes have been requested.
Rules 8
The RHC elected to postpone discussion on this until
Regulations
we have full membership at meeting.
119 Salem
In response to an email sent to the owner /applicant,
Let KF know
Street
Keith Forliui (KF) made contact about attending the
date of next
SRS
January meeting with some plans.
meeting
186 Summer
Marc Maxwell, architect; Dr. Robert Littleton; and
Avenue
Criterion CEO Dan Couel, accepted our invitation to
attend the meeting as we reviewed Criterion's
-
conceptual plans.
Page I ]
Avenue- did not want to discuss RHC's suggested "alternatives"
continued to locating Criterion's facility on the Summer Avenue
site as Criterion remains committed to its current
proposal. The RHC agreed to honor his
request, thanked him and his associates for attending
this meeting, and expressed a desire for continued
cooperation as the project unfolds.
Marc Maxwell (MM) briefly explained the design
(essentially as per prior DIRT and CPDC meetings).
MM asked for RHC's opinion regarding finish /styling
features in the addition versus the main house. SRS
explained that "preservation guidelines" ask that any
new construction tastefully blend but differentiate the
new structures from the old. Privacy fencing was
discussed, as well as ways to make the left side of the
house more attractive for abutters (and appear less
like the side of a "barracks ".)
VA asked about siding and materials for the addition.
MM said that new construction would feature
composite siding, "crisper" lines, similar clapboard
exposure, and composite trim. Windows would be
vinyl, styled to closely match those on the main house,
but simpler. Mullions would be between the glass.
The entry door to the "school" would be classified as
"store- front" with mandated safety features. Shingles
on the roof would be same as the barn. Slate roof
repairs on the main house would be "in kind ". The
interior central stairs would be retained, as would as
many of the other interior and exterior features singled -
out by the RHC following their site visit and contained
in their letter of August 18, 2014.
VA suggested that samples of trim, moldings, etc., be
retained for future reference in order to facilitate
reproduction if /as needed.
Page 1 2
188 Summer RW offered a marked -up drawing showing how the
Avenue. barn and play areas could be switched to "space
continued things out" and possibly improve the project. This was
in response to concerns previously expressed by the
RHC (and some neighbors) regarding the apparent
size /mass of the three components of the project
(preserved house, new large addition, and retained
barn). While moved from its present location, the
distance between the relocated barn and the new
addition would be in keeping with barn /stable
placement of the period.
MM agreed to consider the proposal.
Kathy Greenfield said that she (and possibly the
neighbors) might prefer to have the play area "out of
sight" and behind the barn.
RW, directing his comments to Dr. Littleton, spoke to
the importance of retaining, suitably restoring, and
"displaying" the barn. It is one of only a few barns
remaining in Reading, a key element of this historic
property, architecturally unique, and the most ornate in
the area.
JEB asked how best to codify and close the loop on
those exterior and interior elements the parties agreed
would be preserved and retained. SRS asked if MM
could provide written details responding to RHC's
8/18/14 letter and subsequent comments, enumerating
the specific requested elements/features /items
Criterion agreed would be retained. A letter, or even a
copy of Marc Maxwell's "talking points" from his initial
presentation to the RHC, might suffice.
Dr. Littleton asked that if the RHC had any historic
photos or pictures of the 186 Summer Avenue property
that it share them with the applicant. Dr. Littleton also
reiterated his previous agreement of a walk- through by
RHC of the existing residence in advance of any
interior work to document interior elements.
The seemingly excessive number of parking spaces,
continues to be of concern to the RHC, and others.
Uoples of referenceo correspondence ano documents are Kept In Meeting minutes binoer and
relevant project folders located in the Reading Historical Commission Archives, lower level of the
Reading Town Hall
Preservation only works when we remember it is all about: People - Planning - Partnerships - Politics.
Page 1 3