HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-10 Historical Commission MinutesReading Historical Commission Meeting Minutes 10 April 2007
Meeting called to order at 7:32 pm in the Berger room
Commission Members in attendance included:
Kathy Greenfield, Chair Karen Herrick; Associate Member
Roberta Sullivan, Treasurer Clayton Jones, Associate Member
Virginia Adams, Member Susan Patterson, Associate Member
Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Secretary Linda Tuttle, Associate Member
Mark Cardono, Member
Others in Attendence:
Matt Lewis and Jason Benagh representing the Quannapowitt Players and Dale Gienapp
of Gienapp Design Associates and Tim Whyte and Julie Winters
Minutes:
Others in Attendence:
Jason Benagh of the Quannapowitt Players with Dale Gienapp and Matt Lewis of Gienapp
Design Associates;; Tim Whyte and Julie Winter (420 Franklin St.)
Minutes:
• Quannapowitt Players - The Quannapowitt Players building now located at 55 Hopkins St.
was built as a school in 1853 and moved in 1883 to this location. At that time, Horace G.
Wadlin designed some alterations. Matt Lewis showed photos and details of proposed
changes. The Quannapowitt players wish to expand the ticket area, add air conditioning to
the lobby area, and improve restroom facilities. Restrooms: are now located in the basement
and the plan is to make them more accessible by locating them on the first floor. The
addition will be to the side and back of the current structure with the goal of keeping the
same feel. Wood siding and windows will remain the same. ; The plan seems to be sensitive
to the historic building. Roof top equipment will be added behind a fence. After reviewing
the drawings, Virginia suggested going to the inside of the corner board instead of being so
close to the corner with the hopes of delineating the original school building from the new
addition. Kathy stated that the RHC would send a letter to Community Planning &
Development (CPDC) by May le (hearing date) with our suggestion to give more room to
the corner. Roberta suggested smaller windows in the addition to be more in scale. The
RHC asked to see windows when uncovered during renovation. No plans to change the
current auditorium at this time.
• 420 Franklin St. - Tim Whyte and Julie Winter met with the RHC regarding progress on the
renovations. The group discussed measured drawings supplied by the owners, briefly spoke
of having someone from Boston University (BU) do this. This would be paid for by the
Commission and could be completed within 6 weeks. A written plan was reviewed with
Tim. The one-and-a-half story extension will be gutted, the doorway will be enlarged (from
foyer to livingroom). This section will be insulated and brought up to code. A new roof is
also in the plan. The foyer (old porch) will also be gutted. The group spoke of where the
bathroom vent pipe should go. It would be ideal for it to be on the north side, but will
depend on how plumbing is configured and what the plumbing inspector requires. The