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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-19 Historical Commission MinutesN OFR o'� r Town of Reading I,y yl Meeting Minutest CE�VED r�o i.;WN CLERK Board - Committee - Commission - Council: P 12 52 Historical Commission May 19, 2015 Date: 2015 -05 -19 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: 1. Demolition Delay Hearing - 96 John Street Barn 2. Regular RHC Public Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Chair: Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS) Treasurer: Sally Hilgendorff (SH) Secretary: Carl Mittnight (CM) Virginia Adams (VA), Ron Weston (RW), Jonathan Barnes (JEB) Members - Not Present: Nancy Kohl (NK), Robyn Parker (RP) Others Present: James Burbridge (JB), Owner Shaun W. Briere (SWB), Attorney at Law Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Carl Mittnight Topics of Discussion: Demolition Delay Hearing, 96 John Street Barn May 19, 2015 Demolition Delay Hearing, 96 John Street Barn Call to Order May 19, 2015 at 7:00pm SRS Read Public Notice See Attachment A. VA Announce Purpose SRS announced that the Hearing was to comply with the Demolition SRS of the Hearing Delay Bylaw. Introduce RHC and Those listed in the attendees list on the first page were introduced. SRS Owner/ Applicant Owner/ Applicant JB summarized his reasons for requesting demolition of the barn on DPJ Presentation 96 John Street as written in the Demolition Permit Application submitted to the Reading Building Department. Overview of VA presented the historical and architectural significance of the home VA Historical/ and barn, see Attachment B. Architectural Significance Public Address the The Hearing was then opened for public comment; hearing none. the SRS Chair Chair moved on to the next section. RHC Questions The RHC voiced their appreciation for the owner allowing a site visit All Comments before this hearing. Page I 1 May 19, 2015 Demolition Delay Hearing, 96 John Street Barn Actions Closing A short discussion followed about third parties that might be All discussion: RHC & interested in purchasing and moving the barn. However, the Building Owner condition of the barn was such that it would be cost prohibitive to /Applicant restore it. In addition, the vernacular styled barn was no longer in its historical context; the barn was built before the neighboring lots were would have to rotate inward and point (tilted) toward the sign carved out of the originally larger lot. RHC Votes Close the Hearing • SRS moved that the presented information is sufficient to make a final determination on the requested demolition of the structure at Additionally, the proposed lighting does not include the 96 John Street and that the Public Hearing be closed, RW Haven St side of the building. seconded the motion. • The motion passed, with a unanimous vote: SRS, CM, SH, and RW voting in the affirmative to close the Hearing. RW seconded, 4 -0 vote in favor) and encouraged looking for Do Not Impose the Delay alternatives to tilting the fixtures • SRS moved that the loss of the structure at 96 John Street would Reading Public be detrimental to the Town under the purposes of the Demolition Delay Bylaw (7.2.1) and that a Demolition Delay of up to six (6) regarding the porte cochere. Upon excavation, the months be imposed beginning this date May 19, 2015. RW underpinnings were found to be stacked fieldstones without seconded the motion. • The motion did not pass, with the unanimous vote: SRS, CM, SH, and RW voting in the negative to impose the Demolition Delay. a proper foundation would need to be placed beneath the • A demolition delay was not imposed on the 96 John Street Barn. porte cochere. The recommendation from RHC would be to Adjourn the Hearing • SRS moved that the Hearing be adjourned; CM seconded the motion. brick bases, slate roof, and as many or the materials as can • The motion passed with a unanimous vote: SRS, CM, RW, and be reused. SH voting in the affirmative to adjourn the Hearing. • The Hearing Adjourned at 8:00 pm. Regular RHC Public Meeting May 19, 2015 Regular RHC Public Meeting. Actions Res p. MF Charles SWB from Mawn and Mawn, P.C., representing the MF Building Charles Building owners, presented proposed signage lighting on the Main Street side of the building. The fixtures would have to rotate inward and point (tilted) toward the sign on the building. RHC members asked if there was an alternative such that the fixtures would not need to be tilted. Additionally, the proposed lighting does not include the Haven St side of the building. RHC approved the concept of the lighting (SRS motioned, RW seconded, 4 -0 vote in favor) and encouraged looking for alternatives to tilting the fixtures Reading Public SRS reported a site visit to the Reading Public Library (RPL) Library regarding the porte cochere. Upon excavation, the underpinnings were found to be stacked fieldstones without mortar. The RPL asked RHC what should be preserved, as a proper foundation would need to be placed beneath the porte cochere. The recommendation from RHC would be to preserve the: granite footings, brick bases, fencing between brick bases, slate roof, and as many or the materials as can be reused. Page 1 2 May 19, 2015 Regular RHC Public Meeting. Actions Resp. 116 Lowell The conclusion from site visit with Clay Jones, an expert in Street historic homes, is: As for the house itself, I was struck by how much of the original fabric is there. In olden days, I would have bought it and moved it back on the property. One mantle in the upstairs has a curve which almost seems like Greek Revival style. Is this a transition house? As for why it faces east, I wonder if the road (or bridal path) around 1810 might have passed more in front of the house, and that, like a Greek Revival, the house was situated to "face the street," as a civic statement, more like an urban structure. Or perhaps the builder was trying to "face the Common," again as a public expression. The RHC discussed attempting to save the house and various members agreed to begin researching how this might be done via the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), developer, and possibly a realtor. 57 Summer The owner, Brandon Holben, of a house at 57 Summer Draft letter SRS Street Avenue in Reading has asked us to look at renovating and to owner expanding this property, as this property is on Reading's Inventory of Historic Buildings and there are issues with making renovations. 49 Chute Street The owner, Julie Callahan, asked if the RHC had any photos of 49 Chute Street from earlier days. The house is not on the Reading Inventory of Historic Buildings and the RHC has no ' photos in the Archives. #42 is on the Inventory.) 25 Linden Th RHC received a letter from Warren (Mickey) Laskey, Respond to SRS Street Master Code Enforcement Inspector, MA DPH / BEH / DPH CLPPP, asking if the owner had contacted the RHC regarding lead abatement on a gazebo listed in the Reading Inventory of Historic Buildings. SRS responded that the owners had contacted the RHC. Demolition The RHC discussed tasks to be completed to prepare for Delay the Workshop, scheduled for May 27, 2015 from 4 -6pm at Workshop the Pleasant Street Community Center. Medford VA met with the Medford Historical Commission on May 18, Historical 2015. VA spoke on Demolition Delay Bylaw issues Commission encountered with Reading's experiences. JEB accompanied. Minutes Reviewed meeting minutes; approved as amended for meeting File with CM held on May 05, 2015. clerk Reimbursement SRS motioned to approve reimbursement up to $20.00 for Request VA for printing photographs; SH seconded; approved unanimously. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm. Next Meeting May 27, 2015, 4 to 6 pm — Demolition Delay Workshop All June 16, 2014 at 7:30 pm — Regular RHC Public Meeting Copies of referenced correspondence and documents are kept in Meeting Minutes binder 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 0 Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 LEGAL NOTICE HISTORICAL COMMISSION Phone 781- 942 -6608 Fax(781)942 -9071 Website: readingma.gov This is to serve as notice that the Reading Historical Commission, under the authority and requirements of Section 7.2, Historic Demolition Delay, of the General Bylaws for the Town of Reading, Massachusetts, shall hold a public hearing on the application to demolish the structure included on the List of Historic Structures as defined in Section 7.2.3, located at 96 John Street, submitted by applicant James Burbrige. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday May 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM, in the Conference Room at Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street. Please direct public inquiry to Jessie Wilson, Community Development Administrator in the Community Development office. Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Chairperson Reading, Historical Commission FOR OFFICE USE ONLY: Please run this legal ad one time. Fee paid by Please call and confirm. Thank you. Page 1 4 96 John St. Barn/Stable by Virginia Adams The barn is mentioned in the "Setting" for the entire property that features a sizable house in the Federal — Greek Revival architectural style. The house appears on the 1854 map and was probably the last house on John St. prior to the road's extension. Capt. Richard Robinson owned the property as early as 1867 and subsequent valuation lists indicate he owned 3 other houses and multiple lots of land in the vicinity. Capt. Robinson is believed to have earned the title during the Civil War. He was born in W. Troy, NY and died here in Reading Sept. 6, 1891. The barn is comparatively small and was likely used as a carriage house rather than housing livestock. It has trim boards that identify the three levels of the gabled structure. It is the last remaining out building that is shown on the 1889 map which delineates a larger barn to the south. A site visit on May 5, 2015, revealed a charred interior and evidence of tampering with structural members. The floor is solid at ground level, with no cellar. A single barn door opens on a typical roller and rail system. Page 1 5