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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-19 Historical Commission MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-03-19 Building: Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business 1:ECElVED TOWN^CLERK RF.A01�1G. MA& 2025 APR 10 PM 4: 21 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Berger Room Session: Open Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams (VA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Pino D'Orazio (PD), and Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF) Members - Not Present: Samantha Couture (SC) and Christine Keller (CK) Others Present: Tom Allen (TA) Angus Bruce (AB), Trinity Home Builders LLC Janice Feagley (JF) Rik Lynch (RL), Brigs Property Management Thomas Walsh (TW), Trinity Home Builders LLC Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amelia Devin Freedman Topics of Discussion: PD called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. He made VA and SB voting members for the evening. Discussion with resident Tom Allen: TA described how he found a collection of 1895 letters and a child's leather boxing glove while renovating his home. The letters, which are of personal and social content, date to the fall of 1895 and are addressed to Benton Clement. Some include tickets and receipts. TA is willing to share the letters. ADF asked if he was willing to participate in the transcription project the RHC and the History Department have conducted over the past few years, and TA agreed; he is willing to speak to RMHS students as well. ADF will follow up with Ms. Allison and Mr. Fiore at RMHS. TA would appreciate help with researching his letters; ADF will assist. He would also appreciate conservation advice; ADF will put him in touch with SC. Finally, ADF will send TA a copy of the volunteer application, should he be interested in joining the Commission. Page I 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes 472 Summer Ave: TW told the Commission that he recently had the historic structure tested for asbestos and that asbestos was found. TW also told the Commission he contacted some of the historic house websites on the RHC's list but received limited responses. The one organization with whom he made phone contact said, for a fee, they would list the house. AB said he thought the asbestos would mean no one would want the historic house, and he reiterated his position that the historic house is not moveable. ADF asked if it were possible that a buyer exists somewhere, as no one is always correct in their professional judgment; AB said it was not possible. ADF asked if the team would be willing to pursue parallel tracks of (a) listing the house and (b) seeking to design a new house on which the team and the RHC could agree. AB insisted that they would not. PD suggested that, as a good faith effort, TW try again to contact some of the websites on the list before the April meeting. TW and AB presented a rendering of the front fagade of the building they propose to build after the historic home is demolished. AB pointed out the architectural features of the historic house he plans to replicate on the new house, which include a farmer's porch with columns, dormers, and clapboard siding. Members of the Commission and resident JG gave suggested changes they would like to see to the rendering at the next meeting; these included retaining the color of the historic home, using clapboards or shingles on the second and third stories instead of beadboard; replicating the existing 6 over 6 windows; removing the dormers; changing the proposed roofline. JEB said he would like to see more details on the next version of the rendering. JEB and PD described the process by which the Commission may agree to lift the demolition delay earlier than the current 5 months and two weeks. JEB will send to TW an example of such an agreement between the RHC and the lawyer representing the owners of the Reading Chronicle building, 531 Main Street. 52 Sanborn Street: RL presented an application to renovate the entrance for the condominium building, which is covered by a Preservation Restriction Agreement. He said that a leak has developed under the stairs under the north portico, which needs to be repaired. This will involve removing the stairs, waterproofing the vault beneath them, and then reassembling it all. Much of the removed materials will be reused, but some will require in -kind replacement. The Commission confirmed that the proposed work falls under the building's Preservation Restriction Agreement, dated 7.18.1988. JEB noted that the RHC is not a signatory to the PRA, but the Select Board is. He moved that the Commission should send a letter to the Select Board stating that the RHC is in favor of the project described in "Main Entry Portico Waterproofing and Structural Repair Old Reading Re: Schoolhouse," dated 25 February 2025. PD second. Vote 5-0. PD will write the letter. Page 1 2 Town of Reading 4OF Meeting Minutes Demolition delav bvlaw discussion & recap from January community outreach meeting regarding potential extension of the delay timeline: nothing to report. PD will follow up with Andrew MacNichol, Community Development Director. RMHS history award: nothing to report. ADF will ask SC to follow up 71 Franklin Street: JEB spoke to Amanda Beatrice, Administrative Specialist, about the informal agreement Bret Bennet, Building Commissioner, made with the RHC; namely, that whenever an owner of an Inventory structure plans to demolish only a part of the structure, where Bret does not require a demolition permit to be issued and no demolition delay hearing is required," he would notify the RHC in advance. AB agreed that when involved in such instances in the future, she will notify the RHC and will also provide contact information for the owner or contractor where available. Design & Pattern book meeting update: JEB attended the meeting called by Mr. MacNichol to discuss the Town's plan to put together a book of recommended architectural elements and styles to be used by builders in future projects. The project is in its early stages, and there will be meetings as it progresses. JEB suggested that the CPDC should require future applicants that come before that Commission to comply with the book's recommendations, and applications that decline to do so should be denied by the CPDC. NEDCC reprints of historic photos: nothing to report 25 Haven Street/Art Deco light fixture preservation: SB and an electrician she knows met with two representatives of the mosque to discuss repairing or replacing the building's Art Deco lights. The electrician said he could complete the project for approximately $3,500, but the mosque is not able to pay for it; SB will investigate possible funding sources. SB also discussed with the representatives the historical plaque the RHC would like to see installed at the site. She received an informal commitment for the mosque to pay for the plaque; SC will rework the language on it. JEB will reacquaint himself with the process the RHC has followed in the past to commission such a plaque and will reach out to Attorney Chris Latham regarding the plaque installed at the 531 Main St. Chronicle building, and report back. Accession of Daniel Pratt clock: nothing to report Catalog software updates: nothing to report Addition of assessor info to inventory list: SB met with Ms. Beatrice, who will add this information to the official version of the Inventory. Update on historical research into homes & Historic Inventory: SB updated the Inventory file to include demolitions, as discussed last meeting. She also made hard copies of the recent Inventory additions for members of the RHC, RPL, and Everett Blodgett. Page 1 3 F Town of Reading Meeting Minutes SB has recently completed a new Form B for 64 Berkeley, which she will bring to the April meeting. RHC response to email inquiries process discussion: ADF noted that the system for email responses broke down this month. Members agreed to the following email assignments going forward: JEB: demolition delay bylaw; SB: buildings in town, both Inventory and non -Inventory; SC: Archives; PD: house markers and phone call requests; ADF: people; CK: education. Members also agreed to respond to emails received within one week. JEB described the recent email from Inventory owner Gina DuLong, who needs screws to display her house marker. He will drop off to Ms. Beatrice the extra screws he has from when he was Commission chair. SC will put together a few packages of similar screws for future use. RHC event participation: Friends and Family Day is June 14. PD will register the RHC. JEB moved to authorize $50 for the registration fee. VA second. Vote 5-0. Town Archive review and updates: ADF reported that she researched Edith Nordberg, the subject of a collection of pictures Meg Bond has offered to donate to the Archives. Although Ms. Bond said that Ms. Newberg lived in Reading, ADF cannot document that fact. ADF suggests Ms. Bond offer the pictures to the Wakefield Historical Commission, since she can document that Ms. Nordberg lived there for most of her life. Finance/Treasurer's report: JEB reported there are the following funds in the RHC's accounts: $1184 encumbered from last year's budget; $750 from this year's budget, $250 of which is for the RMHS History Award. JEB will alert Town Hall to the upcoming award expenditure and double check the procedure. Future agenda items: • North Reading Historical Commission Meeting - March 27 at 6:10 PM at Damon Tavern, 21 Bow Street, North Reading • Friends and Family Day, June 14 • Lafayette's Tour reenactment, June 21 • RHC discussion protocols • Possible inclusion of partial demolitions to Inventory file • Future Archive Donations from VA • Reading Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, May 17 • Volunteer Appointment Term Expiration Discussion Review of minutes: ADF moved to approve the January 6, January 8, and February 26 meeting minutes as amended. JEB second. Vote 5-0. Next Meeting: April 9 at 6:30 PM in the Berger Room Page 14 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Adiournment: PD moved to adjourn the meeting. JEB second. Vote 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM. Documents Used: Re: 472 Summer, "The Manchester elevations, 1 of 8," Shane Structures Re: 52 Sanborn, "Main Entry Portico Waterproofing and Structural Repair Old Reading Re: Schoolhouse", dated 25 February 2025 Re: 52 Sanborn, "Deed", dated 7.18.1988 Page 1 5