SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
May 6, 2009
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Ms. Diozzi, Ms. Herbert, Ms. Bellin, Ms. Harper, Ms. McCrea and Mr. Hart.
13 Lynn Street
Barbara McLaughlin submitted an application for a Certificate of Non-applicability for paint colors at 13 Lynn Street.
Ms. Guy noted that she erroneously thought that the application was for appropriateness and advertised it for public hearing. She stated that she has since issued a Certificate of Non-applicability and that the Commission does not need to act on this application.
10 Chestnut St.
In continuation of a previous meeting, Marshall Strauss and Elaine Gerdine presented an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to changed the approved capstones for the wall extensions to shaped concrete capstones formed to echo the slope of the current granite capstones on the main wall.
Ms. Guy read an email request for a continuance to the next meeting.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to continue the application to the next meeting.
Ms. Herbert seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
119 Federal Street
Fred and Linda Lipton presented an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a 6’ high wood fence to match the neighbor’s fence (Ingraham).
Mr. Hart asked if it would be visible from the public way.
Mr. Lipton stated that it will be minimal.
Ms. Diozzi stated that she felt it was a stretch to say it was visible.
Ms. Herbert asked if the existing fence will remain.
Mr. Lipton replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the application as submitted with fence painted gray to match existing. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
15 ½ River
Pamela Ciulla presented an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove an existing wood fence in the backyard and replace it with a similar fence. The fence is not visible from the front of the house on River Street.
Ms. Ciulla stated that she was not sure if she would go with either a replication of what is there or with the same fence, but with caps on it.
Ms. Herbert asked if it will be cedar.
Ms. Ciulla replied in the affirmative and stated that it will be 6’ high on the sides and will drop down to 5’ high behind the house.
John Carr, 7 River Street, stated that he was in favor.
Ms. Ciulla asked if the inside should be on the outside. She stated that if it makes a differenc,e she would put the finish side out.
Ray Dellova, 13 River, stated he was in favor.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve a cedar fence 6’ high, dropping down to 5’ high, with post caps to be added per picture submitted, left natural. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
13 River Street
Delpar, LLC submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to 1) remove wood shingles on exterior to expose original clapboards, 2) replace existing windows with 6 over 6 sashes or mullions on existing bottom sash, 3) front door trim reconstructed to original design, 4) remove small window in front of house, 5) remove front driveway gate, and 6) repair any broken or damaged clapboards, rakeboards and waterboards. Present were Mark Parella and Ray Dellovo.
The removal of the wood shingles and window are already done and photographs were provided.
John Carr, 7 River Street stated that it looks terrific.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the removal of the wood shingles to expose original clapboards, rakeboards and waterboards and to repair/replace any needed to replicate existing. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ray Dellovo withdrew the window sash replacement, stating that they are unable to do the work due do to unexpected costs. He stated that they will remove the brackets, but need assistance on how to do the front door trim.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to continue the front door alterations. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Hart offered to do a little research get some sources.
Ms. Herbert stated that it may not need brackets, but noted that it needs to be better connected to the house and have better trim underneath.
Mr. Hart agreed brackets are more for a Victorian addition.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the removal of the small window on the front of the house and fill with clapboards to match existing. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Parella noted that the house does not have a driveway.
Ms. Herbert stated that the gate removal needs continuance, because what they removed was a stockade and not historic anyway, but while they want to replace with a fence and gate, they have not decided what to install.
Mr. Dellovo stated that they were thinking about an arbor.
Ms. Guy stated that they could offer a couple options. She suggested that they request to alter their application.
Mr. Carr stated that he reviewed commission and zoning regulations. He stated that Ann Knight’s sidewalk fence at 11 River Street has imploded and will be filing an application. He stated that it would be nice if they coordinated the two fences. He noted that it was basically 7’ of frontage on both properties.
Ms. Knight stated that she would like a fence with spacing, but that she may not be able to afford what she has. She stated that her father made the fence and is very expensive. She stated that she would like the two to have the same height and that she would like open pickets.
Mr. Dellovo stated that they may be willing to build the fence for her and bring the two together.
Ms. Guy asked if Ms. Knight would prefer to keep the design of the existing fence.
Ms. Knight replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Guy asked if Mr. Dellovo and Mr. Parella would like the design.
Mr. Dellovo replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Herbert stated that the fence would need a minor adjustment of the post caps to get them a little more historic.
Mr. Dellovo offered to take care of the fence labor for Ms. Knight. He requested a change their application from removal of the fence to replacement with a new fence to match the existing fence and gate as per the photographs of 11 River Street.
Mr. Carr suggested that the gate be more or less opposite the straight path and the fixed fence to the left of that. He suggested that the post start a foot off the house, then have the gate, and then the fixed fence from the left hand post to the shared side lot line.
Mr. Dellovo suggested that the gate be somewhat into the center.
Ms. Herbert suggested that both gates come off the center post.
Mr. Carr was in disagreement.
Ms. Herbert stated that they want to put an evergreen to hide the electric equipment and to put in a French drain to get into the water.
Mr. Carr stated that the gate should be installed so that it is not exactly centered, but leaning toward the right more.
Mr. Hart stated that with a 7 foot space with a 3 feet gate, it will leave 4 feet of fence.
Ms. Herbert suggested centering the gate or abutting it to the 11 River Street post.
Mr. Dellovo stated that he preferred it centered.
Mr. Carr summarized that there will be center post at the shared property line, center post left hand side of the gate, post right of the gate and post up against the house.
Ms. Knight asked if that kind of house originally would have had fancier or plainer fence originally.
Ms. Herbert stated that the house has had many alterations, but there are a variety of styles and something might appear at a later date copied from an earlier design.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve replacement of the street fence to match 11 River Street street fence. Gate to be 3’ wide, centered. Fence posts against house, on either side of gate and shared center post with 11 River Street. Painted trim color of house. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve repairs to any broken or damaged clapboards, rakeboards and waterboards in kind. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Herbert stated that the Commission has no jurisdiction over anything on the ground level, such as paving materials, but noted that the owners have agreed to remove most of the concrete in the front section garden area and possibly install a little brick walkway. She stated that they may apply to change the front door color and add window boxes.
11 River Street
Ann Knight presented an application for a Certificate of Non-applicability to replace the front fence to replicate existing.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
140 Federal Street
Ms. Guy stated that in 2000 the owners of 140 Federal Street got approval for white balustrade, changing sash from black to white, and green shutters with the green color to be delegated to Commissioner Mangifesti. The owners, Stacia and Michael Kraft are asking for an extension for the painting and since Mr. Mangifesti is no longer on the board, have submitted a paint chip for the green (Chrome Green). They have also submitted an Application for a Certificate of Non-applicability for repainting house and fixing fence in kind.
Ms. Herbert stated that he felt the green color needs more black and suggested Char Green from C2 (Waters & Brown).
Mr. Hart was in agreement that it needs a little more black.
Ms. Diozzi was in agreement.
Ms. McCrea suggested Essex Green.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve a Certificate of Non-applicability for repainting the body of the house and repairing the fence to replicate existing. The motion is also to approve a shutter color option of either C2 4339 Char Green or Benjamin Moore Essex Green and to extend the Certificate of Appropriateness dated 12/21/2000 for a period of six months. Mr. Hart seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other Business
181 North Street
Ms. Guy stated that the Commission received a request for comment from EBI Consulting regarding a proposed telecommunications installation at 181 North Street.
Mr. Hart stated that he felt the proposed chimney is too skinny.
Ms. Harper was in agreement.
Ms. Herbert stated that unless they use color treated fiberglass, it will peel.
Mr. Hart made a motion to send comment that the chimney proposed is out of scale to the building and to suggest that it be up to double in width in order to improve its proportion to the building.
Correspondence
Ms. Guy stated that she received a letter from Vine Associates to Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) regarding 10 White Street marina building construction with MHC’s stamp finding no adverse effect.
Ms. Guy stated that she issued the support letter previously mailed to Commission members for tax credits for the jail development project.
Ms. Guy stated that she received a letter from AECOM to MHC regarding the Foster Street Stream Cleaning and Restoration Project requesting information on areas of historical and archaeological significance. There was also a letter from AECOM to the Wampanoag Tribal Historic Preservation Officer requesting the same information.
Roofing Guidelines
Mr. Hart stated that he has a lot of information on roofing that he would like to present and show the progression of roof shingles and appearance of roof shingles and has early photographs of roofs that were covered over and wooden shingles. Mr. Hart will make a presentation for the members at the next meeting.
Mr. Harts stated that new asphalt shingled roofs should either look like a slate roof or like a wooden shingle.
Ms. Harper provided comments on the draft roofing guidelines. She disagreed with the statement that 3-tab shingles best replicate wooden because they are uniform in pattern. She stated that she felt 3-tab shingles don’t replicate wood at all, because they are flat and the Historical Commission guidelines require black or charcoal gray. She would prefer that the statement that they best replicate wood should be removed.
Mr. Hart stated that the language as is is appropriate.
Ms. Guy guestioned if the statement is needed.
Ms. Bellin was in agreement.
Ms. Harper questions if the wind ratings were accurate.
Mr. Hart stated that he was not sure if wind ratings were needed.
Ms. Herbert and Ms. Bellin were in agreement.
Ms. Harper stated that she would like to check the statement that architectural shingles are priced 20 to 40 percent higher than 3-tab.
Ms. Harper stated that architectural shingles are a heavier shingle, thicker and laminated, which should last longer. She did not agree that all architectural shingles will draw the eye to the roof and away from the historic features of the house. She stated that she did not like the ones that were cut on an angle, because they do not relate to anything at all and that the guidelines should state that the Commission will not approve them. She added that Gambrel houses are not appropriate for architectural shingles.
Ms. Guy will update the draft roofing guidelines and circulate another red-lined draft.
Ms. Harper noted that 53 Essex Street has architectural shingles in light grey and that it does not look bad.
She felt it blends in better than a charcoal grey or black.
Mr. Hart stated that a wooden shingle is more indicative of a 3-tab shingle than an architectural shingle because they are relatively even and the same size.
Ms. Herbert stated that wooden shingles are up and down, and don’t have the flat look of 3-tab. She noted that on a Discovery Channel program it indicated that the optimal environmentally green color for a roof is white.
Violations/Work Status
Ms. Guy stated that 331 Essex provided a photograph showing that they painted the AC equipment on the roof to match the red roof.
Ms. Bellin stated that the red does not match and is supposed to match so it blends in.
Ms. Herbert agreed and stated that it is fire engine red.
Mr. Hart stated that it should be repainted.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to send a letter requesting matte finish, rusty brick color. Mr. Hart seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other
Mr. Hart stated that Historic Salem, Inc.’s green workshop was really great success and that 60 people showed up. Jennifer Gilbert from the National Trust did a presentation on windows. Sally Zimmerman of SPINEA did one on insulation. Chris Skelly of MHC did one on energy conservation in the home. Alison Hardy, the Window Woman, was also present with before and after windows.
Ms. Herbert suggested that a workshop be held annually.
Ms. Herbert suggested contacting This Old House to ask what they recommend for solar panels and energy conservation.
There being no further business, Ms. Bellin made a motion to adjourn. Ms. McCrea 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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