Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-13 Historical Commission Minutes Town of Reading " Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK REA� Dh, � SAA. 4u� 2020 FEB 24 M 4: 23 Historical Commission Date: 11/13/19 Time: 7 pm Building: Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: open Purpose: General Business Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams (Associate)- VA Jonathan Barnes (Chair)- JEB Sharlene Reynolds Santo (Member)- SRS Jack Williams (Treasurer)- JW Pino D'Orazio (Associate) - PD Amelia Freedman (Associate) - AF Members - Not Present: Ron Weston (Member)- RW Samantha Couture (Secretary)- SC Other Attendees: Sarah Brukilacchio - (SB) Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Sharlene Reynolds Santo Topics of Discussion In the absence of RW & SC, JEB appointed VA and AF as voting members. 79-81 Salem Street - The property is fenced in, but the house remains. Postmark Square - The wall has been recreated with a cut out on Haven St near the corner of Sanborn St. The project seems to be progressing well. 186 Summer Ave -The building commissioner sent letter dated 11/6/19 to owner about no work being done, the poor condition of the fencing and that the permit for foundation work has expired. PD stated that Everett Blodgett (EB) has talked with Town representatives and he feels that the town has no interests in pursuing the owner for back taxes. JEB mentioned that the first Certificate of Appropriateness was valid for one year from November 2015. However, a later Certificate dated February 2016 stated that all work should be substantially completed within 2 years of first issuance of a building permit, and HDC could extend the 2 year period for good cause. There is a question regarding the foundation permit and whether that is covered by that Certificate of Appropriateness. The HDC may need to look at this again. JEB voiced his concern about avoiding demolition of the existing historic structures by the owner's neglect, and there was general agreement about this concern. JEB expressed his belief that provisions of the Preservation Restriction Agreement require the owners to maintain and repair the structures to preserve their Page I 1 orx o Town of Reading Meeting Minutes architectural and historical integrity, and the owners should be held to the PRA agreement. VA suggested having a joint RHC/HDC meeting to discuss this property. JEB will contact EB regarding a joint meeting. 20-24 Gould Street - Following the meeting JEB and JW had with the owner's design consultants regarding the community event space, JEB brought a thumb drive containing photos of various historic Ace Art artifacts and documents to the design consultant for consideration in the display's design. 409 Grove Street - A potential owner contacted RHC asking for potential insurance carriers for this property. • Schoolhouse Condominiums- RW sent past and current photos showing the compressor units and other changes to the appearance of the original building roof. RHC discussed what should be done about this situation. JEB will check with the Select Board to find out whether the contractor may have discussed these changes before the SB. If not, JEB will ask the contractor to discuss the situation with RHC at the next meeting. RHCOcl.reading.ma.us - This email address should be used for Agendas and Minutes and any other purpose where the communication is intended to be officially retained in RHC archive records; copies will be automatically forwarded to all members and the archive computer. 27 Hillcrest Road - Current owners, Andrew &Alison Friedmann, would like to add their property to the Inventory list. JEB, VA and AF have been working to determine the steps, per the demolition delay bylaw, and JEB handed out a narrative for this property put together by AF & VA for the group's feedback. The owners are considering putting a preservation deed restriction on the property, but this initial decision is not in the purview of the RHC. JEB will begin drafting the Form 8 which, after a hearing and approval before the RHC, will be submitted to MHC. • 832 Main St - Owner, Kurt Habel (KH), has also spoken with JEB about adding his property to the inventory list. KH has a great deal of materials regarding the significance of this property, and JEB will continue to work with KH to move this forward with the RHC. • Town Archive - Preservation Assessment New Business Utility Box Wrap Art - SB came to share certain historical artwork she has seen in other local communities on electrical utility boxes that could also be used in Reading as way finders, to beautify the community and share local history of an area. SB has talked with the artist whose work she has seen, and shared examples with JEB. JEB presented a powerpoint presentation of this artist's work. SB asked for our feedback and the RHC had a positive response. RHC agreed to review whether and how to sponsor at least one utility box art project this year. SB stated that the artist's cost is about $1,000. Next step would be to determine the number of boxes in the area, their location and who owns them. JEB will contact RMLD, send out what he finds and continue to work on next steps. The Group agreed that if the concept was approved Page 1 2 c�w�rxe,, Town of Reading c Meeting Minutes =i IN(oPN�P by whoever within Town owned the utility boxes, RHC would work to sponsor one and see how the community reacts to the concept. Salem St corner of Pearl - The existing house appears to be in the process of being renovated Review minutes from September 18, 2019 Motion by JW, seconded by JEB "Accept the September 18, 2019 meeting minutes as amended." Vote: 5-0 to accept October 16, 2019 Motion by JW, seconded by SRS "Accept the October 16, 2019 meeting minutes as amended." Vote: 5-0 to accept The next meeting will be on December 11 at 7pm. Motion to adjourn by JW, seconded by JEB Vote: 5-0 in favor Page 1 3