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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-05 Historical Commission Minutes`orxr,�o e' Town of Reading . c..Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-11-05 Time: 6:30 PM Building: Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams (VA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Ev Blodgett (EB), HDC Ilene Bornstein (IB), HDC John Burns, Chatham and Grey LLC, 52 Salem Street Dennis Carr, 41 Temple Street Frank Coccoluto, 195 Summer Ave. Shan Li and Bing Xia, 169 Summer Ave. Dennis O'Neill (DON), co-owner 186 Summer Ave. Linda Stroeble, former owner of 52 Salem Street Kim Zecher, North Reading Historical Commission Minutes Respectfully Submitted Bv: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: PD called the RHC meeting to order at 6:30PM. Public Comment - nothing to report Demolition Delay survey feedback 88 homeowners responded to the Demo Delay survey. Amanda Beatrice (AB), Administrative Specialist, put all the responses into an Excel spreadsheet for review. ADF will confirm the exact number of surveys mailed so we can determine the response rate. Page 1 1 Town of Reading 2 i Y Meeting Minutes Response Do you agree that the current Would you support extending the rate of historic structure loss in demolition delay from 6- to 12- Reading is too high? months to stem the rate of historic structure loss? Yes 62 64 No 22 22 Blank 4 2 To analyze the 78 responses to the question, "Please explain why you do or do not support extending the demolition delay period from 6 to 12 months," ADF is creating a list of objections raised by homeowners. She found a reference from the Winchester Historical Commission that refutes the objection that having a historic property reduces property values. In fact, the data supports that the presence of historic properties in town raises property values for all homeowners. Can the "historical" nature of a property be a negotiating tool in sale? 28 homeowners responded to the question, "If you would not support extending the demolition delay period, do you have any suggestions of ways to stem the rate of historic structure loss?" The commissioners are to review the survey feedback prior to discussion at the December 10 meeting. 52 Salem Street At 6:50PM John Burns, Chatham and Grey, phoned in. His company's offer to purchase 52 Salem Street was accepted. He reported that the property is in bad shape, and he would like to demolish the property and build a new structure. He had a preliminary conversation with the Town of Reading Building Department. He asked the RHC what he needed to do to take down a house. Burns reported that he is the contractor renovating the historical property at 71 Franklin Street. ADF and PD explained that we would need to hold a public hearing before implementing a demolition delay. We require a structural engineer's report indicating that the house is structurally unsound. Options to demolition including selling and moving the structure, which mitigates the loss to the town. The property was added to the Historical and Architectural Inventory in 1974. ADF referred to the property's Form B and asked if the mural was still intact. Burns reported he had not seen it. PD mentioned that a previous owner of 52 Salem Street was present at the meeting. The house was built in 1792 by Jonas Parker, a founding father of Reading, and stayed in the Parker family for 150 years. Burns was invited to attend a future RHC meeting. Burns invited the RHC to tour 52 Salem Street with him. Page 1 2 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Linda Stroeble, a previous owner of 52 Salem Street, presented the RHC with a scrapbook of the house, which was assembled beginning in the 1940s. SC made a motion to accession the 52 Salem Street Scrapbook. ADF second. Vote 5 - 0. CK to send a thank you letter to Mrs. Stroeble. 7:08 PM PD called the joint meeting with the HDC to order and made VA a voting member. HDC members present included VA, EB, IB, PD, and ADF AW. 186 Summer Ave Demolition Delay hearing and Preservation Restriction Agreement extinguishment vote PD read the public notice of the RHC Demolition Delay Bylaw Public Hearing Procedure. VA noted that structural engineers have determined that the property is not sound and rebuilding is not feasible. JEB stated that the RHC is obligated to hold the demolition delay hearing per General Bylaws, and that early release may be considered per Bylaw 7.2.6.3. Co-owner DON stated that the barn is gone. There was a separate fire in the house, and the use of a fire accelerant caused the second floor to collapse. The structure was substantially destroyed, and the third floor is inaccessible. The insurance report has not been received yet. JEB asked DON about future use of the property. There has been no decision yet on future use. As RHC had previously been informed that the current owners were considering selling the property, JEB asked if the current owners decided instead to rebuild on the property rather than sell it to a new owner, so that they present their proposed reuse to RHC for consideration and comment. There was discussion about the role of the HDC in this process. Abutter Coccoluto requested that the structure be torn down, so that the owners could move on. IB and EB commented that there are design guidelines for the district. The property's PRA has a casualty clause. PD read from Paragraph 26 about the extinguishment clause of the PRA. PD must inform the Town of Reading's counsel about the extinguishment of the PRA, as well as MHC. At 7:40PM, PD moved that the information provided is sufficient, and the public hearing be closed. JEB second. RHC vote 5 - 0. RHC Demolition Delay. PD moved to impose a demolition delay for up to 6 months on 186 Summer Ave. where the loss of the structure would be detrimental to the Town. JEB second. RHC vote 5 - 0. Page 1 3 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes PD moved the structure at 186 Summer Ave. be released from the stay of demolition per 7.2.6.3 as there is no likelihood the structure will be preserved, rehabilitated, or restored. RHC vote 5 - 0. RHC Extinguishment of PRA: PD moved per MGL 184 and Paragraph 26 of the PRA that, where it is in the public interest to release the restrictions in these circumstances, to extinguish the PRA on 186 Summer Ave. SC second. RHC vote 5 -0. HOC Extinguishment of PRA: PD moved per MGL 184 and Paragraph 26 of the PRA that, where it is in the public interest to release the restrictions in these circumstances, to extinguish the PRA on 186 Summer Ave. EB second. HOC vote 5 -0. PO confirmed that abutters have been notified and thanked them for attending the meeting. At 7:52PM, PD made a motion to adjourn the joint meeting of HOC and RHC; EB second; Vote 5 - 0. 94 Oak Street On October 22, AB informed the RHC that 94 Oak Street had applied to demolish their garage. "Since this is not a full demolition, it does not require RHC approval." Upon review of the plans submitted (Twomey Design, McIsaac Proposed Plans, 7/9/25), it was clear that the garage is an integral part of the house and not free standing. JEB to contact Kim Saunders (KS), Permits Coordinator, to determine status of the building permit. CK suggested that the RHC meet with the building inspector team to ensure we have clarity on the demolition delay procedure. Utility Box Wraps SB suggested installing box wraps at the intersection of Willow Street and West Street and/or Salem Street on the Common. JEB will inquire with Franklin Marval about pricing, as well as maintenance of the existing wraps. The next decision is what the wrap should be. 32 Lincoln Street. Reading Train Depot: proposed roof repairs There appears to be a misunderstanding by town staff of the RHC recommendations for the roof material that had been accepted by the Select Board in October. JEB will phone Andrew Mac Nichol, Community Development Director, and KS to discuss the RHC recommendation of slate or composite slate for the proposed roof repair. 32 Lowell Street PRA: repairs in progress - nothing to report Future Events: Historic gravestone cleaning training Page 14 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes ADF attended a gravestone cleaning training session October 26 in North Reading at the Park Street Cemetery. Volunteers were trained to clean headstones, and ADF thought this was something the RHC could do. EB and his wife Ginny also stopped by the North Reading event. They have had prior training in gravestone cleaning. There was discussion of the materials needed to clean gravestones including nylon brushes, water, scraper, and biologic spray (D/2 or Endurance). We would need permission from the Board of Cemetery Trustees to work in Reading cemeteries. There is an issue of who owns old headstones. Reading has received grants to repair old headstones. ADF will explore whether RHC can work with the Reading Antiquarian Society on a headstone cleaning project. JEB asked that the question of liability be addressed. 25 Haven Street: Art Deco light fixture preservation JEB prepared a draft letter: Agreement Reading Historical Exterior Lighting and Ribbed Sheet Metal Banding at 25 Haven Street for the RHC to review. The group supported the letter, and JEB will contact Khalid Kanane at the Reading Mosque to discuss. Catherine Moulton History of Old South Church SB received an electronic copy of this document from Ron Weston, former RHC Chair. There is not a copy of this document in the Town Archive. SB will ask Mr. Weston for his copy to accession. Potential collaborations with Merrimack College ADF reported that there is a student interested in doing an internship in the Town Archive. SC will develop a list of projects for an intern. ADF also reported that Ms. Allison, RMHS History teacher, would like to work with RHC to transcribe and index documents in the Town Archive. Ms. Allison's women's history class is researching local women's history topics. VA mentioned there was an article on historical Reading women, including Clara Gowing and Molly Sweetser (first woman on the Select Board). ADF had several ideas for the RMHS students: Eleanor Bishop; Daughters of the American Revolution; Girl Scouts; Female Anti -Slavery Society; Sally Hoyt; Alice Hunter; League of Women Voters; Mrs. Leathe; Emily Ruggles; and Women's Club. Oral history interview At the September meeting, Louise Sandberg, former RHC member, suggested that we conduct an oral history interview with VA. With a suggestion from Jocelyn Gould, RPL, ADF communicated with Mac! Mark and obtained a quote to conduct an oral history interview ($1,035 without transcription and $1,485 with transcription). VA will consider this request and stated that a local interviewer would be preferable. Page 1 5 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Community Preservation Act (CPA) - liaison report SB reported that the CPA study group will propose 1% CPA to the Select Board in January. Inventory• structures for sale/sold/demolished: spreadsheet updates: GIS map • 61 Lowell Street is on the market. ADF has communicated with the seller's real estate agent. • ADF showed a GIS map of the properties on the inventory which will be printed and added to Inventory books for display. Matt Deane, Town of Reading GIS Administrator, prepared the map. CatalogIt software updates • SC is working on folder structure. She has provided training to ADF, JEB and CK. Town Archive review • ADF will meet with Ginny Blodgett (RAS) in the Archive on November 6 to trace the history of a house on Union Street. Finance/Treasurer's Report The Town report dated 9/30/2025 indicates that the available budget in the General Fund is $846.75. Future Agenda Items • Framing and hanging of historical photos in Town Hall Conference Room Review Minutes from October 8 - postponed to December meeting Next meeting: December 10 at 6:3013M. Town Hall Conference Room. At 9:15PM, PD made a motion to adjourn. JEB second. Vote 5 - 0. Documents used • Demolition Delay survey feedback • RHC Demolition Delay Bylaw Public Hearing Agenda • 94 Oak Street/Twomey Design/MCIsaac Proposed Plans 7/9/2025 • Draft Agreement Regarding Historical Exterior Lighting and Ribbed Sheet Metal Banding at 25 Haven Street • Mad Mark resume and oral interview quotation Page 1 6