SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
JULY 21, 2010
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Ms. Diozzi, Ms. Herbert, Ms. Harper, Ms. McCrea, Ms. Bellin and Mr. Spang.
118 Derby Street
Robert W. Burkinshaw submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to powerwash and scrape paint from the body and trim of the house, repair and restore trim, prime with oil base primer and paint with two coats of acrylic latex paint. Body to be changed from grey to Minuteman Blue. Trim and shutters to remain the same as existing. Doors will also be painted.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Paint chips
Ms. Burkinshaw stated that the trim is white and the shutters are black. The doors to be minuteman blue.
Ms. Herbert asked if the shutters were vinyl.
Mr. Burkinshaw replied in the affirmative.
Ms. McCrea asked if they will replace missing shutters.
Mr. Burkinshaw replied in the negative.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
135 Federal Street
Brenton and Besty Dickson submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to enclose the existing screen porch, keeping existing dimensions of screen porch and existing exterior trim and columns. The will remove the existing screen infill and handrail/guardrail. They will provide new Pella Architect Series windows and will trim to infill between existing columns per included drawings. There will be two copper skylights set back from view. The application is also to provide a new cover at the existing side entry, extending the existing trim details to create a covering per drawings. They will provide a new column to match the existing at the screen porch and a new railing per drawings. Tobin Shulman, architect, was also present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Drawings of proposed work
Ms. Dickson stated that the purpose is to have a conservatory for her collection of camellias. She stated that she believed only the side would be visible.
Mr. Shulman stated that column, beams and trim will stay, but that all infill comes out. He stated that the detail on lower half gets imitated and that all wood will be painted white.
Mr. Spang noted that the glass in the upper panes is out further than the glass in the lower section.
Mr. Shulman stated that they are not in the same plane and that the thinking is the outer plane of the wood will all coincide. He noted that the lower is not the fundamental element and that it will appear as a balustrade with glass behind it, so that the historic detail is on the outside and the weatherproofing is on the inside.
Mr. Spang stated that his first thought was that it was solid panel on the bottom. He wondered if the top section of glass should be set in so that the glass lines up.
Ms. Dickson stated that, as currently designed, the interior wood rail can be used as a shelf.
Mr. Spang stated that they could still extend it on the interior if the planes were the same on the exterior.
Mr. Shulman stated that he was not 100% sure if the skylights will be visible and noted that the top might be visible. He noted that they are set 4 ½ feet a back on the roof and will be 8-10 inches above the roof. He stated that one may be visible.
Ms. Harper stated that she went by and was not sure if they would be visible at all.
Ms. Herbert stated that the skylights did not bother her because they fit the use and are a Victorian element and are minimally visible.
Mr. Spang noted that a copper skylight will eventually blend in. He asked if the rail is original to the rest of the porch,
Mr. Shulman stated that it was hard to say, but noted that it could be. He stated that the patterning does not remind him of anything else from the period. He stated that if he had to guess, he would say that it is original. He noted that the proposed is inspired by the existing rail, but is not a match.
Mr. Spang stated that it looks like the Bowditch House rail. He asked if the height is coming down.
Mr. Shulman stated that the new rail will be 6” lower to get more light in. He stated that, whatever the solution, it will have to be new construction, because the existing cannot support the weight of the new windows, noting that the fret work cannot take the load.
Ms. Dickson wondered if they should take the existing rail off and put it at the end of the deck.
Mr. Shulman stated that, if so, he would not want to have the rail detail on both.
Mr. Spang stated that porches typically have solid panels below. He agreed if the rail is moved to the end of the deck that the enclosure bottom should become solid. He added that if they don’t want to move it, he would advocate changing the design of the proposed bottom rail to match the existing and changing the window design to 2 or 4 panels, so that the windows follow the rail lead, rather than the rail following the window lead.
Mr. Shulman stated that he may have to thicken the rail somewhat to hide a piece of steel to carry the weight of the windows.
Ms. Harper wondered if it was possible to make the proposed rail the same design as the existing, even though it is going to be smaller.
Mr. Spang stated that they may need to add a transom line.
Mr. Shulman stated that side entry is only visible from Monroe Street.
Mr. Spang stated that the side entry proposal feels nice.
Mr. Spang made a motion to approve the side entry alterations as submitted.
Ms. Herbert seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Herbert made a motion to continue the porch alteration portion of the application to the next meeting. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
30 Columbus Avenue
Robert and Anthie Jackson submitted an application to waive the Demolition Delay Ordinance to demolish 30 Columbus Avenue in its entirety. Original construction date is approximately 1900. The application states that the cellar framing is not up to code and that the foundation is not in good shape. They plan to construct a new house. Present was Taylor Moynihan, architect.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Report on existing conditions by J. Taylor Moynihan dated July 21, 2010.
- Preliminary drawing of proposed new house
Mr. Moynihan stated that the sanitary waste pipe is imbedded in the foundation. His report concluded that it would not be “economically feasible, practical or desirable to attempt to repair and alter the existing building to comply with current codes and to achieve reasonably comfortable residential living conditions”.
Mr. Jackson stated that he has a Purchase and Sale Agreement on the property.
Mr. Moynihan stated that the new house is in the preliminary stages, but are looking at a 1 ½ story concept and probably 2400 sf of living area and another 5-600 sf of a two stall garage.
Ms. Diozzi asked if they will need to go to Zoning Board of Appeal.
Mr. Moynihan stated that they will be applying for the August meeting for frontage and setbacks.
Ms. Herbert asked if the applicants plan to reside there.
Mr. Moynihan replied in the affirmative. He noted that the house will be wood framing and cedar shingles.
Jane Dionne , 26 Columbus Avenue, stated that she had no objection as long as they maintain the same footprint toward water side. She stated that if it is moved toward water, it will block her view. She stated that she believed the house was moved there in 1900 from Winter Island. She noted that the tree in back of house next to the seawall is the last juniper tree on Juniper Cove. She asked if they will be keeping the pool.
Mr. Jackson replied that he did not believe so.
Mr. Spang stated that the report sounds like every house down the Willows, including his. He noted that the Willows is made up of mostly summer cottages that had been winterized. He stated that it is an interesting question for him – how to maintain the integrity of a wonderful neighborhood, yet deal with houses that are on the margin, and buyers who want to build the house of their dreams on their property. He stated that he did not feel this house has the historic originality of a recently demolished house in the neighborhood. He stated that the front gable facing the street is really strong and that there are a series of them up and down the street that create a really nice streetscape. He added that front porches are a wonderful aspect of neighborhood and that this will be lost by
having a 2 car garage facing the street. He suggested continuing the application in order to get more information on proposed house design. He also suggested that the proposed more closely reflect those that are typical in the neighborhood and turning the garage so that it doesn’t face the street.
Mr. Moynihan stated that in order to avoid getting a variance, they were respecting the front set back requirement.
Mr. Spang recommended going for the variance.
Claudia Hennessey, 21 Columbus Avenue stated that it they build behind and above the existing garage, she will lose whatever view she has.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to continue to the next meeting. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other Business
- Ms. McCrea made a motion to approve the minutes of June 16, 2010. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
- Ms. Herbert made a motion to approve the minutes of July 7, 2010. Mr. Spang seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
- Ms. Guy stated that she received an e-mail from Kelly Lewis of 23 Warren Street requesting an extension of their Certificate of non-applicability dated 6/2/09 to repair the front porch by July 31st. Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the request. Ms. Herbert seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
- Ms. Guy stated that she received a letter requesting comment from AECOM regarding the rehabilitation of 1.3 miles of Canal Street from Loring Avenue to Mill Street, which will include reconstruction of roadway pavement, curbing, sidewalks and wheelchair ramps. Minor drainage improvements will be made. It also includes additional street trees, ornamental pedestrian lighting, stamped colored concrete sidewalk bump outs and stamped colored asphalt crosswalks at selected intersections, along with more clearly defined driveway and parking access to area businesses.
Ms. Herbert asked Ms. Guy to find out if the work will correct the ridge in the road. Ms. McCrea asked what work will be done to fix the drainage.
- Ms. Guy read a copy of a letter from Massachusetts Historical Commission to DCAM dated 7/9/10 regarding the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center about a letter received from Historic Salem, Inc. regarding limestone panels. Ms. Guy stated that she did not get a copy of HSI’s letter.
- Spring Pond - Ms. Guy stated that she received an additional 3 emails (all from out of state) regarding the Walmart/Lowes project near Spring Pond, as well as an e-mail regarding a plot plan for the Fay Estate.
There being no further business, Mr. Spang made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Harper 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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