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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-13 Historical Commission Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK Town of Reading REACT � G, "vtA. r Meeting Minutes P `° 2928 SEF 21 AM 9: 17 Board - committee - commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2020-08-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams, Associate (VA) Jonathan Barnes, Chair (JEB) Samantha Couture, Member (SC) Amelia Devin Freedman, Secretary (ADF) Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Member (SRS) Jack Williams, Treasurer (JW) Members - Not Present: Pino D'Orazio, Associate Ron Weston, Associate Others Present: Carlo Bacci Alfred Brooks (AB) Mathew Cumings (MC) Andrew DiMichele (AD) Laura DiMichele Julie Mercier (JM) Gaetano Manganiello (GM) Joe Marceau Patrick O'Shaughnessy (PO) Brooks Rice (BR) Catherine Rice Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amelia Devin Freedman Topics of Discussion: JEB called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. JM described the ground rules for the Zoom meeting. Because JW was having technical issues and other members were unable to hear him, JEB appointed VA as a voting member for the meeting. Utility Box Vinyl Wrap Project: JEB reported that Reading Cooperative Bank approved the Commission's (henceforth, RHC) grant request for $1000. This brings the total funds available for the project to $3300. JEB asked JM how the RHC could gain access to the Archives to choose several more photos for the project. JM will arrange. JEB will contact the artist, Franklin Marval, to make sure he is still available. 39-41 Walnut Street: JEB spoke to the owner, Vicki Sandiford, about the RHC visiting her historic house before it goes on the market. Ms. Sandiford will let JEB know when she is ready for such a visit. Page I 1 94 Salem Street, Demolition Delay Hearing: JEB read the public notice and called the public hearing to order. MC, the architect, presented the project plan. The owners, Andrew and Laura DiMichele, are requesting permission to demolish their rear addition, which dates to roughly 1870. In its place, they will construct a new addition containing a kitchen, mudroom, and garage. The addition will not match the original 1817 structure but will look historically accurate from the street and will use authentic materials. MC stressed his personal and professional commitment to historical preservation. AD stated he and his wife want to preserve their historic home and will not touch the original structure. VA suggested that the team should store any architectural elements they remove for later use. PO, the contactor, said they will dismantle by hand to allow for salvage. VA complimented the team's sensitivity to the house's historical character. She stated her concern that the proposed addition would be too tall; SRS concurred. MC said that he had originally planned a smaller addition but was unhappy with the visual result. Under the current plan, the addition will look like a carriage house built 30-40 years after the original structure. There were no comments from abutters. JEB closed the public hearing. Motion: The presented information is sufficient to make a final determination on the requested demolition of the structure at 94 Salem Street, and that the Public Hearing be closed. JEB motion, SRS second; vote 5-0-0. Motion: Where the applicant's proposal is to demolish only the rear addition portion as recorded in applicant's Application for Demolition Delay Hearing dated 5/15/20 with Attached Documents, and in consideration of the overall plans which preserve the historically significant portion; Move that the loss of the rear addition structure at 94 Salem Street does not constitute a complete demolition within the meaning of the bylaw and would NOT be detrimental to the Town under the purposes of section 7.2.1 of this bylaw and as such, no Demolition Delay under this bylaw shall be imposed. JEB motion, SRS second; vote 5-0-0. 16 Eaton Street, Demolition Delay Hearing: JEB read the public notice and called the public hearing to order. GM, the architect and builder, presented the project plan. The historic house is in poor physical condition; it is also currently outside zoning setbacks and not centered on their lot. Renovation would not be cost effective for the owners, who want to continue living in Reading. The owners, Brooks and Catherine Rice, propose demolishing the historic structure and replacing it with a new house. The new house would be similar in style to the historic house, retaining some of its distinctive architectural features, but would be more livable. It would also meet all zoning setbacks. AB, an abutter, asked whether the house would be reoriented to Eaton Street. GM said that it would be rotated 90 degrees from its current position, so that the front door faces the street. AB asked whether there would be a double garage door. GM said no. AB asked if the existing shed would remain. GM said yes. SC said that the submitted plans for the new house are vague and she does not think it resembles the historic house. She requested a more detailed drawing. She also said the planned garage does not make sense, historically. VA said the plans are unclear on frontage and dimensions. She expressed concern that the house's historic neighborhood is being undone, one structure at a time, and that Page 12 "McMansions" are replacing the original workers' cottages. GM said that the new structure would have the same square footage as the original. VA said that the garage doors are visually unappealing, and that the plans should have been more detailed. JM asked what the problems with the existing structure are, and if it could be moved on the lot instead of demolished. GM said that moving the house would be cost prohibitive, and that he thinks the structure would be damaged in the process. BR said that the foundation is crumbling, there are drainage issues, and the addition is separating from the main house. JM asked about the interior of the house. BR replied that it is not functional; for example, it has very small rooms and closets. GM said that the front-to-back arrangement of the house is difficult for the owners. VA suggested that there are alternatives to demolition. She would like to suggest some ways to save some or all of the house. SC said she would be in favor of a short demolition delay if she knew what was going up in place of the historic structure. GM said he would like to come back to the RHC with more details and asked what would be desirable. JEB said he would like to see elevations and more three-dimensional details, like molding and trim. SC said she'd like to see more exterior details; ADF agreed. SRS asked for information on the materials that would be used. SC asked for a side view, which might show how the original architectural features would be incorporated into the new structure. GM said he would discuss these issues with the owners. JEB closed the public hearing. Motion: Move that the presented information is sufficient to make a final determination on the requested demolition of the structure at 16 Eaton Street, and that the Public Hearing be closed. JEB motion, SC second; vote 5-0-0. Motion: The loss of the structure at 16 Eaton Street would be detrimental to the Town under the purposes of this bylaw (7.2.1) and that a Demolition Delay of up to six (6) months be imposed beginning this date. JEB motion, SC second; vote 5-0-0. JEB told the owners and their team that the RHC looks forward to working through these issues with them, with the potential goal of an early release of the demolition delay. 24 Gould Street: No new information. SC left the meeting at 9:37 PM. 186 Summer Avenue: No new information. JEB asked if the RHC would like to reschedule the cancelled site visit. VA and SRS stated that they prefer to wait until the health situation stabilizes. SRS suggested that a few members of the RHC visit the site now; JEB agreed. ADF suggested that Dr. Littleton at Criterion be invited to the September meeting to give an update on the project; JEB will try to arrange. JM asked if the RHC knows what is behind the project's delays. JEB said no. He reiterated the RHC concerns that the structure is deteriorating and will become a victim of"demolition by neglect." Finances: The RHC has received its yearly $1500 budget. Page 1 3 Membership: JEB's position as chair has expired. In July, the RHC decided to defer choosing a replacement until all members were present. Since that is not the case tonight, the discussion will be deferred to September. Archives: Since no one from the RHC has been in the Archives since the spring, JEB and VA are concerned that the dehumidifier is off or on the wrong setting. JEB called Town Hall to ask if someone there could check or let him in so he could do it; he received no answer. JM will follow up. 27 Hillcrest Road and 832 Main Street: The public hearing concerning adding these houses to the historical inventory was canceled because of the pandemic. JEB asked JM if the RHC can now reschedule; JM said yes. JEB will follow up with the home owners. JM said that the Town's Zoom meeting schedule for October is quite full and suggested that the meeting may need to be in November. New Business: In lieu of the cancelled New Residents' Open House, the Library is putting together a welcome bag. JEB was asked if the RHC would like to contribute material. He suggested contributing the brochure that the RHC had planned to distribute at the event, and allowing the RHC's contact information to be added to a planned list. All agreed. VA suggested that the RHC also contributes the left-over Bicentennial pamphlets. The owner of 61 Grand Street, Jacklyn Lee, emailed with a list of renovations she is considering making to her historic home. Amanda Beatrice at Town Hall advised that Ms. Lee would need to come before the RHC if she plans any demolition. JEB invited Ms. Lee to the September meeting so the RHC can provide advice. JEB reported that he attended the recent CPDC meeting about 531 Main Street. The applicants have made some significant changes to their original plan, including dropping the retail space to the first floor and installing a door to this space at street level. JEB invited the applicants to visit the RHC's September meeting. The project will be discussed at the CPDC in September. JEB received a call from Scott Rumley about 79-81 Salem Street. Mr. Rumley's demolition delay permit expired in July. On the advice of Glen Redmond, the building inspector, Mr. Rumley requested the RHC extend his permit. JEB replied that the RHC does not have the authority to do that, and he suggested Mr. Rumley contact Mr. Redmond. JEB said he believes Mr. Rumley will have to go through the demolition delay process again. JM asked whether the RHC might extend the permit, in light of the pandemic. JEB stated that the Town's by-law does not permit that, and the RHC must follow the by-law; SRS agreed. SRS suggested that if the permit were to be extended by the building inspector, Mr. Rumley would not be required to go through the demolition delay process again. JEB will follow up with Mr. Redmond. Arts Reading is waiting to hear whether they will be permitted to hold their fall event. VA was asked if the RHC would participate again this year. Given the pandemic, VA said she is willing to produce the display but not to attend in person. Other members were unsure if they would attend. July Minutes: Motion: To accept the July minutes as revised. SRS motion, JEB second; vote 4-0-0. September Meeting Date: Thursday, 9/17 at 7 PM Adjournment: SRS motion, JEB second; vote 4-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:33 PM. Page 14