SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 21, 2007
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on February 21, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Ms. Diozzi, Ms. Bellin, Ms. Harper, Mr. Desrocher and Mr. Hart and Ms. Guy.
255-257-259 Lafayette Street
Lafayette Court Condominium Trust submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for paint colors. The body of the houses and garages will be Boardman, trim will be Wild Oats, shutters on front of 255 and 259 will be Roasted Pepper, exterior doors to all buildings including garage doors will be Roasted Pepper and any wooden stairs and porch areas attached to the buildings and breezeway area will be Roasted Pepper. Storm windows and frames of windows facing out will not be painted (remain brown). Trustees Christine Buckley and Jim Ognibene were present.
Mr. Desrocher noted that the colors are similar to what is there. Ms. Buckley replied in the affirmative and noted that it is a slightly darker body with a lighter trim.
Ms. Diozzi asked the number of units. Ms. Buckley stated that there are eleven, five in each house and one single unit in the back.
Ms. Diozzi asked when painting will start. Ms. Buckley replied that it will start April 1st.
Mr. Desrocher made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
109 Derby Street
Heidi Milman presented an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for paint colors, window replacement and the installation of a roof vent. The body will be either Coventry Grey or Stonington Grey, the trim will be Montgomery White and the doors will be New London Burgundy. The window configuration of 6 over 6 and 2 over 2 will remain. The vent is needed for bathroom ventilation.
Ms. Milman stated that she has settled on Coventry Grey for the body. She noted that currently the doors are the same color as the house.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the paint colors as submitted. Mr. Hart seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Diozzi asked the age of the house. Ms. Milman stated that it was built in 1770.
Mr. Hart stated that it would be nice if the windows on the main façade were 6 over 6.
Ms. Guy noted that Ms. Milman is going through the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program.
Mr. Hart noted that the Pella window specification provided appears to be glued on mullions. He stated that he preferred the J.B. Sash window as was approved for the Chayets on Winter Street.
Mr. Hart made a motion to approve replacement of windows with J.B. Sash custom, wood, true divided light, 5/8” muntins, in B301 frame, double glaze, clear glass. Staples in windows to be non-corroding and puttied over so as to be invisible. Preference is for all windows to be 6 over 6.
Ms. Bellin asked for an amendment that if cost prohibitive through the loan program to allow all windows to be 2 over 2. Mr. Hart so amended his motion.
Mr. Desrocher asked for an amendment that the windows be consistent throughout the house, i.e. combination of 6/6 and 2/2 not permitted. Mr. Hart so amended his motion.
Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Milman noted that the house is taller than most around it and that the bathroom is in the center of the third floor and has no window, only a skylight. She noted that due to lack of ventilation, the wallpaper is peeling off the wall.
Mr. Desrocher made a motion to approve the plumbing vent stack (black iron pipe) on roof, 3”-4” diameter,
as depicted in the photograph. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Guy suggested continuing the window portion of the application in case the applicant wants to provide further information on the Pella Architectural Series window.
Ms. Harper made a motion to continue the window application to the meeting of 3/7/07, should applicant wish to provide information on Pella Architectural Series. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
22 Chestnut Street
Craig Barrows and Nina Cohen submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove a 1970s exterior stair, restore the original rear entrance, add two double hung single pane windows, install a new brick foundation on the Hamilton Street side, replace a door with a window, raise the rear roofline to meet the existing one-story roof and add shutters to the new windows. The application states that the existing footprint will not be altered. Drawings were provided. Along with Mr. Barrows was Helen Sides, architect for the project.
Ms. Sides stated that most of the work is behind a 6’ fence that has one opening. There will be no change in the footprint or party wall. They will balance the two windows on the first floor when the door is removed. They will add a small basement window. She added that, due to the party wall, there is no flexibility in changing the roof slope.
Mr. Barrows stated that the door being taken out was originally a window.
Ms. Sides stated that there is minimal visibility of the work being done. The new windows will be Brosco true divided light and will match the areas of the house they are near.
Mr. Hart asked if the new shutters will be operable.
Mr. Barrows replied in the affirmative, noting that they will be a reproduction of the existing shutters.
Ms. Sides stated that they are eliminating one entire roof plane and bringing two planes together.
Mr. Desrocher made a motion to approve the application as submitted, with all surfaces painted to match existing. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion.
Mr. Hart moved to amend the motion for the shutters to be full size to fit the window and to use pintel hinges with appropriate brackets. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion for the amendment.
The amended motion was voted on. All were in favor and the motion so carried.
398 Essex Street
Jeffrey and Katherine Casiglia submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to alter a sign previously approved, but not installed, and to expose three existing arched windows.
Ms. Bellin recused herself from this application.
Ms. Diozzi read a letter from Mark Audette, 395 Essex Street, in favor of the application.
Ms. Casiglia stated that they are going with a new sign company who has suggested they change to an oval sign and darker color. She noted that she liked gold leaf with carved lettering and that the logo will be hand painted on it. The height will be 1 ½” taller than what was previously approved for a total of 19 ½” tall. It will be double faced. The crest will be 9”. The sign will be 1 ½” thick. She stated that they would like the option to install a steel side strap to add stability. She stated that she did not know if the existing lighting works.
Mr. Desrocher suggested painting the existing white bracket in black.
Mr. Hart asked if other approvals will be needed.
Ms. Casiglia replied in the affirmative, noting that they must adhere to the city sign ordinance.
Ms. Harper made a motion to amend the Certificate for sign replacement with the new sign to be wood, oval 19 ½” high x 30” wide x 1 ½” thick, two sided, black background with gold leaf carved lettering with painted-on logo, hung on existing or matching bracket to the left of the front door, with bracket painted black. Option to have steel side strap for stability. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Hart made a motion to approve exposing the arch of the 3 existing arched windows and to repair as need to match. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other Business
Ms. Guy stated that the City of Salem is seeking a letter of support to apply for Survey and Planning Grant funding for a Neighborhood Architectural Conservation District study. She read a draft letter. Ms. Bellin made a motion to send the letter of support. Mr. Hart seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Guy stated that she received copies of letters:
· from the Alliance of Salem Neighborhood Associations to Massachusetts Historical Commission dated 2/9/07 concerning the proposed Salem Judicial Center;
· from City Councillor Joseph O’Keefe to the Commission etal with a copy of his letter to the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs dated 2/9/07 concerning the proposed Salem Judicial Center;
· from Brona Simon of MHC to John Carr, 7 River Street, dated 2/7/07 concerning St. Joseph’s Church redevelopment project; and
· from John Carr to Brona Simon dated 2/9/07 concerning St. Joseph’s Church redevelopment project.
There being no further business, Ms. Bellin made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Hart seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane A. Guy
Clerk of the Commission
| 
