SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
June 18, 2014
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 7:00 pm at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Jessica Herbert (Chair), Susan Keenan, Joanne McCrea, Larry Spang, and Jane Turiel.
128-130 Federal Street
McIntire Real Estate, LLC submitted an application for a Certificate of Non-Applicability to repaint the house with existing colors. The application also includes repairing and replacing the wood shutters, and rotted wood along the fascia and soffits.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 6/16/14
- Photographs: 6/16/14
VOTE: Ms. McCrea made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
92 Federal Street
As a continuation of the previous meeting, Vincent Capozzi submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for side entrance railings that were previously installed. The two identical railings are set back from the street. A Certificate of Vote, taken in 1995, is on file with the Clerk for unsatisfactory alterations to the railings. Mr. Capozzi was not the owner of the property at that time.
Victor Capozzi was present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/7/14
- Photographs: 5/7/14
Mr. Capozzi submitted new pictures of the railing, as had been requested by the Commission at the previous meeting. He stated that the posts are 4x4 and the design was an exact replica of what was there before.
Ms. Herbert pointed out that there are different treatments under the stairs. One has lattice and the other has vertical boards.
Mr. Capozzi stated that you cannot see the sides of the stairs from the street. He submitted drawings of the existing conditions as well as a design showing how the stairs would look if rebuilt. If he is required to rebuild the stairs, they will look very different from what is there now.
Ms. Herbert stated that it seems it would be an easy fix to replace the lattice under the stairs in order to make the match.
Mr. Capozzi stated that if he touches the screening under the stairs, he is required to replace the entire stairway. He abruptly left the meeting.
VOTE: Ms. Turiel made a motion to continue the application to the next meeting. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried. Mr. Spang abstained from the vote.
182 Federal Street
Alexa Ogno submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to repaint the front door. The existing color will be stripped. The painted metal faux strapping, hinges, and knocker will be painted black. If the wood is in a good condition, a clear varnish will be applied to the door. If the wood is in poor condition, a faux wood finish will be applied to the door to match the interior.
Alexa Ogno was present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 6/2/14
- Photographs: 6/2/14
Ms. Herbert asked for clarification that the exterior would be painted to look like oak, similar to the interior.
Ms. Ogno responded in the affirmative. Jill Pabich will be doing the work. She added that she scraped a portion of the door today and underneath the paint color is black.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Ms. Turiel made a motion to approve the paint colors for the front door as submitted. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
10 Lynn Street
Joseph Galvin submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the existing stockade fence and replace it will a new 6’ fence. The design, color, and material will match the adjacent neighbor’s fence. The design is flat board capped fence, left natural color.
Maggie Smith- Dalton was present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/14/2014
- Photographs: 5/12/14
Ms. Smith-Dalton stated that the fence will match the neighbor’s fence which was installed last summer.
Mr. Spang asked if the fence will be left unfinished.
Ms. Smith-Dalton responded that it will be sealed with a clear seal, to protect it.
Ms. Herbert asked if the pressure treated posts will be a part of the fence or incorporated.
Ms. Smith-Dalton responded that she wasn’t sure, but it will be an exact replica of the neighbor’s fence.
Ms. Herbert asked for the location of the neighbor’s fence and whether it is visible from the street.
Ms. Smith-Dalton stated that the fence runs along the rear of the property. She doesn’t think the fence is visible.
Ms. Lovett left the room to obtain the file for 10 Andover Street.
Ms. Herbert reviewed the file and stated that it may be a different neighbor’s fence, as the file for 10 Andover Street does not have a fence approval. However, because the neighbor’s fence is not very visible from the public way, it may be OK if the Commission approves the fence without integral posts.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Ms. McCrea made a motion to approve the fence, as submitted. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
47 Summer Street
Philip Marchand submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct a second story addition on the existing single-story addition at the rear of the house. There will be no change to the footprint of the building.
Philip Marchand and Steve Livermore, architect for the applicant, were present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/22/14
- Photographs: 5/22/14
- Drawings: 4/17/14
Ms. Herbert asked if the plans include the previously approved change for the bow window.
Mr. Marchand responded in the affirmative. He stated that they do not want to change the footprint of the building, they are only looking to add a second floor. The additional space will be used as additional family space. The Bed And Breakfast will be reducing it’s number of rooms from three to two, as well.
Mr. Livermore added that there will be improvements to the Gedney Street foundation as part of this project. The roof pitch will match the existing house. The windows will match what was recently approved for the building: BROSCO single pane true divided light with storms. They are extending the existing chimney at the back. The eve will be eliminated at that level and the chimney will go straight up.
Ms. McCrea asked for the age on the rear chimney.
Mr. Marchand responded that it is approximately 30 years old. His father built it in the 1980s.
Ms. Herbert asked if the skylight is existing, and if there will be new venting.
Mr. Livermore responded that the skylight is existing and will remain. They have not determined the exact location of the venting but they could agree to putting the venting on yard side of the house rather than the Gedney Street side.
Ms. Herbert asked if the block chimney is remaining.
Mr. Livermore responded in the affirmative. That chimney is the one being raised up, but they will be parging it. They are bringing the chimney up two feet above anything over 10 feet. They will only go as high as needed by code.
Mr. Spang asked if the details will match and if there will be painting to match.
Mr. Marchand responded in the affirmative.
There was no public comment.
Mr. Spang stated that the long Gedney Street façade seems a little bit overwhelming. The one-story addition currently breaks up that side of the house. Given how few windows are present on that side of the house, he wondered if there was another house next door prior to the roadway being widened.
Ms. Herbert suggested that they could run a corner board down along the addition so that it breaks the façade up. That would not change the number of windows, however.
Mr. Livermore stated that there is not much space to add more windows because there are stairs and a bathroom on that side. That side of the house is the utility side.
Mr. Spang stated that given the inability to add more windows, adding a corner board would help. It would also delineate the addition from the main house. Ms. Turiel and Ms. McCrea agreed.
VOTE: Mr. Spang made a motion to approve the application as submitted with the addition of continuing the existing corner board on the Gedney Street of the house and there will be new siding installed on the Gedney Street side, painted to match the existing siding. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
115 Derby Street/ 54R Turner Street
The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the existing asphalt roof on the Hooper-Hathaway House with wood shakes. The intent of the Owner is to interpret the exterior of the house to its appearance in the first half of the 20th century following the 1912 restoration and subsequent minor additions to the rear of the house. The overall appearance and installation details will be similar to the roof installed on the House of the Seven Gables a few years ago.
Kevin White and Bill Finch, preservation consultant to the HOSG Settlement Association, were present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/22/14
- Photographs: 5/14/14
- Drawings: 5/14/14
Mr. Finch stated that they will be replacing the existing asphalt shingle roof and they will be replacing it with what was installed during the restoration in 1912. There are copper clad shed roofs that they will not know the condition of until they get up there, but they are planning to replace them. The existing shed roofs are flat seam copper, however the contractor would prefer standing seam copper for the replacements. There will also be incidental clapboard replacement, as necessary. The replaced clapboards will match the existing clapboards and painted to match. The gutters and downspouts will be replaced. The downspouts have wood covers on a copper downspout. Those will be replaced. The chimney was repointed a few years ago and the flashing was redone, so those are OK.
Ms. Herbert asked the size of the downspouts.
Mr. White responded that the wood surround will be 4” square and 3” copper downspout.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Ms. Mccrea made a motion to approve the application, as submitted. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
1 Harrington Court
Jason Dziuba submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a 6’ fence along the Bridge Street side of the property. The fence will be a cedar flat board fence with a top rail and a gate. The fence will be painted white.
Jason Dziuba and Dierdra Mjaeski were present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/29/14
- Photographs: 5/29/14
Ms. Herbert asked the owners if they were aware that the contractor who has restored their house prior to them owning it had received a preservation award from historic Salem, Inc. The house was in terrible condition before, and while it was not a completely historically accurate restoration, but it was done very well. Part of the award was due to the fence. She stated her concern that if a 6’ fence is installed that the air flow will be lost. She asked if they considered installing landscaping.
Mr. Dziuba responded that they have considered landscaping and that could be an alternative, however because of the large tree there is mostly shade behind the house. They would like a little more privacy for the backyard, but they do not want to hide the house. They would install a fence similar to the neighbor’s fence. The 6’ fence would step down near the corner of the property.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Herbert suggested that if the 6’ fence could return to the corner of the house. The gate along Bridge Street could be relocated to the Flint Street side. The gate should be the same style as the existing fence. The 6’ fence would end at the rear corner of the house.
Ms. Mjaeski asked if they should still transition the fence from the 6’ fence to the 3’ fence. The transition would be one section of fence.
Ms. Spang stated that if there is a return to the house then they would not need a transition section. It is typical in the district to have a higher fence for the backyard. He asked if the fence will curve around the corner similar to the existing fence.
Mr. Dziuba responded in the affirmative. They will be using Boston Fence, who also constructed the existing fence.
Ms. Herbert stated that the gate hardware should be on the inside. They could stain the fence rather than paint it.
Mr. Spang showed the applicants a drawing of the Commission’s proposed fence.
VOTE: Mr. Spang made a motion to approve the application as modified, 6’ high cedar board fence with posts to be hidden on house sid;, running along Bridge Street and returning to the corner of the house; the remainder of the fence to remain as is; relocate the existing gate to a location along Flint Street, to be determined by the applicants; painted or stained white; gate hardware located on the inside. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Mr. Capozzi, applicant for 92 Federal Street, returned to the meeting room. The Commission continued the hearing for his application.
92 Federal Street Continuation
Mr. Capozzi stated that he spoke with the Tom St. Pierre, the City Building Inspector, who said he would issue a repair permit for the stairs, allowing him to change the privacy boards on the sides. This work will entail replacing the frame, the string of the frame, and the screening.
Ms. Herbert suggested that the screening be ¾”x 2 ½” boards with ¾” spacing.
Mr. Capozzi stated that would be fine. The screening will be pressure treated wood and it can’t be painted over for a year, otherwise the paint will blister off.
VOTE: Ms. McCrea made a motion to approve the stairs with the screening as discussed. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried. Mr. Spang abstained from the vote.
VOTE: Ms. McCrea made a motion to remove the clerk certificate. Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried. Mr. Spang abstained from the vote.
87 Federal Street
Raymond Young submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the rear and rear side windows of the building. The application also includes repainting the building with existing colors and in-kind repair of the chimneys. All of the work was previously completed and the applicant is before the Commission in response to a violation letter.
Raymond Young was present.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application: 5/16/14
- Photographs: 5/16/14
Ms. Lovett left of obtain the file on the property.
Ms. Young stated that the back of the house is no longer a sunroom. It has been converted into a breakfast nook off of the kitchen and a two room bedroom suite. The windows that were installed were the same as the window that is existing on the side of the house. Only the window along the rear side is visible from the public way.
Ms. Herbert asked if the replacements are casement windows.
Ms. Young responded in the affirmative. The previous windows were casement windows as well.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: Mr. Spang made a motion to approve the work as completed. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Other Business
Jeff Cohen, Salem Recycling Coordinator and member of the Renewable Energy Task Force, spoke with the Commission about solar panel installations. He is also serving as a solar coach for the Solarize Mass. The discussion focused on the design aspects the Commission will need to take into consideration as more residents from the local historic districts begin proposing solar installations for their roofs.
Approval of Minutes
VOTE: Ms. McCrea made a motion to approval the minutes of May 21, 2014, with comments.
Ms. Turiel seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
VOTE: There being no further business, Ms. McCrea made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Spang seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie BL Lovett
Community Development Planner
| 
