SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 20, 2013
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Jessica Herbert, Kathryn Harper, Laurie Bellin, Chad Garner, David Hart, Susan Keenan, and Joanne McCrea.
101/103 Federal Street
In continuance of a previous meeting, ProProcessIt, Inc. submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a small fixed non-operable skylight above a 2nd floor bathroom.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Skylight cut-sheet
- Installation Specifications
- Building Plans
Ms. Herbert stated that Mr. McIver has asked to continue the item until the next meeting.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to continue the item to the next meeting. Ms. Mccrea second the motion. All were in favor and the motion so carried.
1 Washington Square-Salem Common Fence
The City of Salem submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace pipe bollards with decorative style bollards at two entrances. New bollards will match the decorative bollards in other entrances and will be painted black to match the fence. Natalie Lovett presented the project to the Historic Commission.
Documents & Exhibits
Mr. Hart asked Ms. Lovett to show the entrances that are included.
Ms. Lovett stated that the entrances needing bollard replacement are along Washington Square South and Washington Square North. The pipe bollards will be replaced with decorative style “Salem” bollards to match the City standard. She stated that the pipe bollards were initially installed as a quick, affordable fix to block the entrances.
Ms. Herbert asked if the collected pieces of the fence were being inventoried.
Ms. Lovett responded in the negative.
Ms. McCrea stated that she spoke with Councillor Sosnowski recently regarding the fence. Part of the issue with the fence is that various metals were used in previous repairs that do not expand and contract the same.
VOTE: Mr. Hart made a motion to accept the proposal as submitted. Ms. Mccrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
175 & 183 Lafayette Street
A.L. Prime Energy Consultants, Inc submitted an application for Waiver of Demolition Delay for two buildings: a convenience store and a gas station/garage. The convenience store building was built in 1959 and the gas station was built in 1950. The buildings will be demolished in their entirety and a new gasoline station with convenience store will be built on the site. The project has already received decisions from the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board. The proponent plans to build a new gas station on the site. George Atkins was present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Existing Conditions Plan
- Site Improvement Plan
- Salem Zoning Board of Appeals Decision
- Salem Planning Board Decision
Mr. Atkins provided a summary of the project and property. The property has been a problem in the past due to car and trucks causing traffic jams while waiting for gas and conflicting with vehicles trying to enter and exiting the convenience store parking lot. AL Energy Prime has decided to build a new gas station with convenience store. The project has already received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board. Landscaping will be added along property edge to shield the neighbors’ view of the property.
Ms. Herbert asked if the entrance from Palmer Street would remain.
Mr. Atkins stated that it will remain but it will be an exit only.
Ms. Herbert asked if a traffic light was ever discussed for that location.
Mr. Atkins stated that he did not remember a light ever being mentioned. There was conversation about making pedestrian improvements and the proponent has agreed to assist in making the street more passable for pedestrians.
Ms. Herbert asked if there are elevations of the new building, so that the Commission could see how it would blend with neighboring buildings.
Mr. Atkins did not have the elevations with him. He responded that there was extensive discussion with the neighbors regarding the building. There will be fence and landscaping trees in order to help alleviate the view to neighbors, however it is still a gas station. The general consensus by the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals is that this is an improvement to the current situation.
Mr. Hart requested that there be some documentation of the existing buildings before taken down. Specifically:
- Photographic documentation: utilizing digital camera, Color, 5 meg per shot minimum.
- Exterior: All facades, and ¾ views of all visible corners.
- Interior: Wide angle views of all interior spaces.
- Measured drawings: digital drawings in original format and pdf format with scale. Taped exterior dimensions to nearest inch. Vertical dimensions of all elevations to nearest inch.
Ms. Herbert responded that this was a standard request.
Mr. Atkins asked about the procedure for submitting the documentation.
Ms. Herbert stated that he can submit the documentation to Ms. Lovett and then the Waiver of Demolition Delay would be issued.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to waive the demolition delay. Mr. Hart seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Salem Public Library- Request for Letter of Support
The Salem Public Library is submitting an application to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for a Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund grant. The grant application includes the restoration of the library windows. Specifically, the work will entail removing and replacing the exterior sills and trim moldings as well as the frames of the windows with a rot resistant wood such as Spanish cedar or mahogany. John Goff and Nancy Tracey were present at the meeting.
Mr. Goff provided a summary of the grant application work. He stated that the architect, Bob Farley, removed one of the windows to see the condition of the windows. They found a lot of rott about the windows. The windows were updated in 1989 with aluminum sashes. He is not sure whether the work had received an approval from the Historical Commission. The estimated grant budget for window restoration is $89,000. A letter of support from the Local Historic Commission is required by MHC as part of the grant application.
Ms. Herbert stated that she would like to see the application.
Mr. Goff responded that it is still being prepared.
Ms. Herbert stated that she would like to see the 1989 Historical Commission application for the windows. The installation of the aluminum sashes should be addressed in the letter of support.
Ms. Lovett left the room to locate the file.
Ms. Lovett returned and stated that she was unable to locate the sashes approval in the 1989 application.
Mr. Hart agreed that the Historical Commission should see the grant application before drafting the letter of support. He stated that he took photographs of the window and it is hard to tell what the condition of the window is. Some may just need small repairs and he would hate to see the windows replaced unnecessarily.
Ms. Harper asked is the molding is original and if it will be duplicated.
Mr. Goff replied they are from 1850 or 1880. Yes, the contractor is proposing to duplicate the molding.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Mr. Hart made a motion to continue to the item to the March 6 meeting. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Other Business
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the January 16 meeting minutes. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried. Mr. Hart and Mr. Garner abstained.
Ms. Lovett read an email from the City Council Committee on Community Development and Committee of the Whole requesting the Historic Commission attendance at a meeting regarding the restoration of the McIntire Arch at the Salem Common. Ms. Lovett stated that the purpose of the meeting is to bring together interested parties and determine the scope of the project.
Ms. Herbert responded to the issue of expired terms for the Historical Commission members. Additionally, she stated that a housewright would be a good person to have on the Historic Commission.
Ms. Bellin asked how to the Historical Commission members can get reappointed.
Ms. Herbert responded that it is up to the administration and City Council.
VOTE: There being no further business, Mr. Hart made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Bellin seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie BL Lovett
Community Development Planner
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