City of Salem Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board or Committee: Redevelopment Authority, Regular Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday May 9, 2012 at 6:00pm
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Chairperson Robert Mitnik, Conrad Baldini, Robert Curran, Russell Vickers
Members Absent: Matthew Veno
Others Present: Executive Director Lynn Duncan, Economic Development Manger Tom Daniel
Recorder: Lisa Donahue
Chairperson Robert Mitnik calls the meeting to order. Roll call was taken.
Executive Director’s Report
Lynn Duncan notes that she would like to table her report for the end of the meeting in order to move on to the first order of business since Michael Blier from the design team is still present from the DRB meeting.
Old/New Business
- Essex Street Pedestrian Mall: Discussion and vote on proposed improvements to Essex Street pedestrian mall
Duncan explains that the DRB just had a special meeting in an effort to facilitate moving forward with a very strategic plan for phase one improvements to the pedestrian mall. She notes that there is an opportunity to use available fiscal year 2012 funding, and if we can capture it now we would be able to use that funding towards this project.
Duncan continues that the scope of phase one is the removal of the landscape bed behind the fountain near Washington Street, the kiosk, and the circular landscape bed in front of Salem Five. She notes that the tree will be transplanted. She also notes that if there is enough funding available, we would move down the mall and remove the next two to four landscape beds which are not in good condition. She clarifies that once the landscape beds are removed they will be replaced with brick that will match.
Tom Daniel states that the DRB’s recommendation to the SRA is to approve the first phase of work, which again is the removal of primarily the landscape beds with in kind brick replacement. He notes that the design team is getting survey data next week and will be appearing before the DRB again for the phase two scope which will address the cobblestones and the fountain. This is a subset of the broader project that the SRA reviewed on April 11, and the DRB recommends approval.
Russell Vickers wants clarification that they simply want approval for phase one and that there will be additional discussions of details associated with the remaining phases. He wants to make sure that by their action tonight, it will not preclude further design changes on other phases.
Duncan says absolutely not. Phase two will focus on removal of the fountain and what would replace it to recognize the historic aspect of water at that location. The other issue that will be discussed in phase two is the cobblestones. Duncan notes that the cobblestones can be difficult to walk on, but do have historic merit, so they will try to find a way to keep the historic charm while making is safer and easier for people to walk. She affirms that all of phase two will go through the DRB and SRA process just as this phase one is.
Vickers asks if the contractual part of this process is going to lend itself to having phase one completed by June 29th. In other words, he wants to know if the funds have to be used or committed by the end of June.
Duncan responds that the funds have to be committed but notes that we would also like to see them expended. It has been heard loud and clear that for phase two, construction should stay away from the months of June-October. In an ideal world, we are striving for most of phase one to be complete by July 4th. It is also very strategic and limited, so we will keep people informed and do the best we can.
Vickers asks if it possible to have a stop work date that you could put on the contract.
Duncan states they would like to see how quickly we can get this done and wants to keep the pressure on.
Michael Blier explains that part of the strategy will identify the street elements and locations to work so that there is never a time when there is a whole block fenced off, but rather it will be done in pieces. He also notes that they will be doing a walk through with the contractor next week to start to strategize.
Vickers states that it seems manageable.
Blier affirms that it should be a quick turn around, and will keep obstruction to a minimum.
Robert Curran asks if the mall will be blocked at any point that would cause tourists to have trouble getting by. He notes that tourists come a lot earlier than July 4th.
Blier states that he can’t imagine phase one would cause the mall to be blocked off because these changes are really just fine tuning. He further notes that delivery and emergency vehicles will have to be able to get through at all times.
Curran notes and that they should probably come up with a plan to organize the construction site.
Duncan agrees that it is a great idea to talk to the contractor about construction management.
Vickers adds to that saying that is very good because they need to be aware that this isn’t a typical construction site.
Mitnik thinks this language should be written into the first phase of the contract.
Blier notes an example such as not stock piling material overnight.
Mitnik agrees and further notes that he likes the reduced scope of work and how it has been broken down into smaller pieces.
Curran makes a motion to approve the recommendation of the DRB to proceed with phase one.
Baldini seconds. Passes 4-0.
Sign, Awning, and Lighting Review
- 186 Essex Street (Witch City Ink): Discussion and vote on proposed portable sign. The submission includes photos and plans of the proposed sign.
Daniel explains that the DRB recommended approval with suggested modifications such as adjusting the spacing between two letters and the border space; however they felt that the changes were minor enough that it would be fine.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB, seconded by Vickers. Passes 4-0.
- 247 Essex Street (Gulu Gulu Café): Discussion and vote on proposed portable sign. The submission includes photos and plans of the proposed sign.
Daniel explains that it is a chalkboard sign. The location that the applicant submitted did not comply with the ordinance; however the applicant was very amenable to putting it in the location that the DRB recommended adjacent to the outside dining area.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB, seconded by Baldini. Passes 4-0.
Daniel notes that Gulu Gulu Café is taking over the Upper Crust space and will be opening the Flying Saucer Pizza Company. They received small business financing from the City several years ago. They have now paid off the loan and are now privately financed.
- 221 Essex Street (Mud Puddle Toys): Discussion and vote on proposed portable sign. The submission includes photos and plans of the proposed sign.
Daniel states that the DRB recommends approval and suggested only that the frame be black rather than white.
Baldini: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB, seconded by Curran. Passes 4-0.
- 60 Washington Street (Body and Soul Massage): Discussion and vote on proposed portable sign. The submission includes photos and plans of the proposed sign.
Daniel states that this sign started its review process in early 2011 and he clarifies that it is a white board sign. The DRB required that rather than just having a white board sign, they need to have a graphic on it so it relates more directly to the business.
Vickers asks what goes on the bottom of the sign.
Daniel explains that it is just a white board sign so they can write something promotional each day with markers.
Mitnik asks if the logo is just on the top.
Daniel says yes.
Curran: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB, seconded by Vickers. Passes 4-0.
- 25 R Lynde Street (James Barr Carriage House): Discussion and vote on enclosure of previous “green house” area with roof and wood clapboard siding. The submission includes photos and plans of the proposed enclosure.
Daniel notes that the owner, Mike Becker, is present for any questions. He explains that Becker is looking to build an addition on the brick foundation from the old greenhouse that has been taken down. Daniel further notes that the DRB reviewed it and had a couple suggested changes which Becker has incorporated such as running clapboards all the way up and adding an extra window. The DRB thought it was a great addition to the building and recommended approval.
Vickers: Motion to approve as recommended by the DRB, seconded by Baldini. Passes 4-0.
Minutes
The minutes from the April 11, 2012 regular meeting were reviewed.
Baldini: Motion to approve, seconded by Curran. Passes 4-0.
Executive Director’s Report
Duncan thanks Bob Mitnik and Steve Cecil for attending the HSI meeting with her to accept the award to the SRA. She notes that the Bridge Street Neck project to look at mixed use zoning for a portion of it is going to have a kick-off meeting towards the end of the month. Mitnik will be serving as a representative because it falls right within the new urban renewal plan which states the SRA is interested in the entrance corridors to the city, which would include Bridge Street Neck.
Duncan further notes that the City received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to create a master plan for public art. We sent them a revised scope which focuses on the downtown but will also include other areas throughout the city. Duncan lastly notes that there are a lot of other exciting things going on with public art throughout the city.
Daniel mentions that the Kenny Scharf mural will be installed the following week.
Baldini states that he dislikes that he doesn’t have any idea of what Scharf is going to draw.
Daniel explains that representational images were reviewed by the SRA as part of approval for the location. The mural is in that theme.
Duncan reminds the Board that this has been the Board’s practice—approval of the location but not of the art. She notes the example of the Elizabeth Montgomery statute. At the time, the DRB wanted to review and comment on the design of the statue, but it is artwork and they did not. The SRA approved the location but not the specifics of the statue. Duncan notes that people may like or dislike a particular piece of art, and that’s okay. She thinks the Scharf mural will generate a lot of buzz, and it will be exciting to watch the mural be installed.
Baldini is concerned something could be drawn that could be harmful.
Daniel explains that there is an agreement that it can’t be harmful to a third party, and if it is, it will be removed.
Mitnik thinks it would be good to have a clear policy.
Duncan reminds the Board that they did vote on the mural consistent with their past practice. She mentions that it is timely that we received the $25,000 grant to do master planning for public art because she can see that policies will part of the conversation.
Daniel adds that part of the master plan is looking at policies not just where art happens but also for how public art is procured and how it is managed.
Vickers asks if there are any consultants that are specialists in public art policy that could guide us through this development.
Duncan responds yes and notes that we actually had a couple of names when the grant application was submitted, but we have to think about what kind of procurement process we’d do, or whether there was someone local we would identify to work with.
Daniel notes that he had a background with public art programs, and that there are folks in the Boston area that do specialize in public art policy.
Duncan again states this is good that we have this and that it’s very timely.
Daniel goes on to mention that the Salem Arts Festival kicks off on June 1st and notes the ArtBox program. He states that we received 45 submissions for 6 utility boxes to be painted. There was a jury comprised of an art curator from the Peabody Essex Museum, a gallery owner from South Boston, the president of the Salem Arts Association, and City Planner Lynn Duncan who chose the six finalists.
Daniel notes that the finalists consisted of three Salem residents, one is from Lowell, one is from Cambridge, and one from Scottsdale, Arizona. One utility box will be completed each week starting June 1st.
Daniel further notes the Peabody Essex Museum has just completed a mural inside the museum by Michael Lin, and that they are also working with the North Shore CDC to get a mural painted in the Point neighborhood. We are also still trying to work on a sculpture installation for this summer, and finally the Beautification Committee has the Ladies of Salem that will be going up on the pedestrian mall.
Daniel again notes that the Salem Arts Festival kicks off on June 1st in Old Town Hall and that there will be music out in East India Square as well as on June 2nd there will be about twelve to fourteen artists set up on the pedestrian mall selling their creations.
Daniel lastly mentions that Artists’ Row will be opening again for its ninth season at the end of the month.
Mitnik mentions that he believes the Jazz festival begins next weekend.
Daniel affirms this.
Adjournment
Curran: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Vickers. Passes 4-0.
Meeting is adjourned at 7:15 pm.
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