SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
August 20, 2008
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Chairman Diozzi, Ms. Herbert, Ms. Bellin, Mr. Hart and Mr. Desrocher.
29 Washington Square
The John Bertram House submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish and reconstruct an existing masonry elevator shaft. Representing the applicant was Richard Griffin, one of the Board of Trustees of the John Bertram House and Griffin Moore of Pitman & Wardley Architects. Drawings were provided.
Mr. Griffin stated that the existing elevator, circa turn of last century, that is not handicapped accessible and that they need a code compliant elevator that will, among other things, hold a stretcher diagonally inside it. Currently, it is scarcely a wheelchair size. The current shaft was built out from the building. They just need to extend back to the building and then out about a foot from the edge of the current elevator shaft and up to the top of the building. He stated that the impact will be fairly minimal. It will not be visible from Washington Square or Mall Street (unless going the wrong way on Mall Street). It is a total 2 ½’ of change, but about a 1 ½’ is going back to the building. They will be closing the existing gap between
the building and the existing elevator shaft and expanding out approximately 1’ in two directions.
Ms. Herbert asked if the windows will change.
Mr. Griffin stated that two will change.
Mr. Hart asked if there was access to the shaft need at the upper level.
Mr. Griffin replied in the negative and stated that it is hydraulic, which will be in the basement. They will need a vent with energy damper. The new shaft will be brick to match the house.
Ms. Bellin asked if the new shaft will be taller than the existing.
Mr. Griffin stated that he believed it was identical in height, possibly shorter.
Mr. Moore stated that they are expanding 7” rear (Bridge St. side).
Ms. Herbert stated that she felt the windows will be more appropriate than what is currently there.
Mr. Moore stated that the lintels will match the existing on the house.
Mr. Hart asked if the windows will be true divided lights.
Mr. Moore replied in the affirmative, stating that they will match the existing on the house. He stated that two windows will be replaced and two windows will be shuttered blank.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
25 Washington Square North
Gary and Jennifer Santo submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the alteration of the garage roof, demolition/enlargement of a mudroom and addition of entry overhang. Present were Ms. Santo and architect Walter Jacob.
Mr. Jacob stated that the existing side entrance, that they believe is a much later addition, was already approved to be demolished. It was added on above a bulkhead and in front of a door. It functionally does not work and that they propose its demolition. The other thing to address is the garage facing onto Williams Street, which is solid concrete garage that is spalling. Also, there is a side door that they propose an historically appropriate overhang to the side door. Finally, they propose to replace the structure in the rear with a trellis. He stated that what will be seen from Washington Square is the corner of the garage which will go from stucco to something that is clad with shingles like the existing houses and the putting the pedimented gable roof on top of it. They are
drawing the features on the garage from the house, such as a window on the house that will also be on the garage. They will keep the structure down below and put shingles on it, like the existing house, match the trim and replace the windows because the windows there are much smaller than they should be. The new windows will be 6 over 6.
Ms. Guy clarified that the Commission only has jurisdiction on what is visible from Washington Square.
Mr. Jacob stated that the majority of the work proposed will not be visible.
Ms. Santo stated that the house was built in 1897 and that the garage is early 20th century.
Mr. Jacob believed that the garage was built after the 1930s. He stated that the footprint of the garage will remain and that the grey area on the plan is the new footprint for the mudroom between the house and garage.
Ms. Herbert asked if all the windows on the house were 6 over 1 with exception of the garage.
Mr. Jacob stated that the majority, but not all, are 6 over 1. He noted there are some windows with decorative cross hatch.
Mr. Hart asked if the new windows will be true divided lights.
Mr. Jacob stated that they will be wood, true divided lights, similar to Brosco.
Mr. Hart asked the roof material.
Mr. Jacob stated that the house is slate with copper edge and that they will do the same on the garage.
Mr. Hart asked if the existing garage doors will remain.
Ms. Santo replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Herbert asked about the downspouts.
Mr. Jacob stated that they will be copper.
Mr. Hart suggested that the copper be secured well to prevent theft.
Mr. Jacob stated that the garage is in good shape and that just the veneer needs changing and they want to change the pitch of the roof.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the application as submitted, with the garage to be gray stain with white trim and the existing garage door to be reused. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
35 Broad Street
Helen Sides and Paul Viccica submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace a leaking single glazed wooden skylight with a Velux VS aluminum clad exterior to approximately match the slate roof. The application notes that the skylight is barely visible on the left side of the roof. The applicants were not present.
Mr. Desrocher made a motion to approve the application as submitted with flashing and exterior metal treatment to be anodized bronze if available. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other Business
Ms. Guy stated that the City is applying to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to be designated a Preserve America community. She provided a draft letter of support. Mr. Desrocher 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 New Boston Ventures is again submitting an application for Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits for the redevelopment of the Salem Jail. She stated that she updated the Commission’s prior letter of support. Ms. Herbert made a motion to send the letter of support. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the minutes of October 17, 2007. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Desrocher made a motion to approve the minutes of December 18, 2007. Ms. Herbert seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the minutes of May 7, 2008. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Guy stated that the City will be undertaking two projects within a FEMA designated Special Food Hazard Area utilizing Community Development Block Grant funds – South River Harborwalk and Peabody Street Park. She provided a copy of the Combined Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds and Notice of Floodplain/Wetland Environmental Evaluation.
Ms. Guy noted that she e-mailed Commission members a copy of a letter from DCAM to MHC dated8/14/08 summarizing the comments on the 60% submission for the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center Project.
Ms. Guy distributed a letter from MHC to DCAM dated 8/5/08 regarding the 60% submission for the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center Project.
Mr. Hart stated that he purchased Repairing Old and Historic Windows for the Commission files.
Mr. Hart noted that two mechanical controller cabinets on concrete pads have been installed as part of the North Street interchange redesign and that they were not on previous plans or renderings. One is listed on the Earthtech, January 2008 plan. Ms. Guy will ask the City Planner about the units.
There being no further business, Ms. Bellin made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Desrocher seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane A. Guy
Clerk of the Commission
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