Historic District Commission

CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION: Historic District Commission DATE: November 8, 2021 LOCATION: Beverly Golf & Tennis Club, 134 McKay Street BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Suzanne LaMont (Vice Chair), Caroline Baird Mason, Wendy Pearl, Gregory A. Howard BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: William Finch STAFF PRESENT: Emily Hutchings, Assistant Planning Director OTHERS PRESENT: Bill Lowd, Brian Hromadka, Gerry Sullivan, Chris Carter, Jay Leahy, David Gelineau RECORDER: Emily Hutchings Vice Chair LaMont calls the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. 1. Review Golf & Tennis Clubhouse and surrounding area with regard to previously submitted Rehabilitation Plans Brief introductions are made, and Mr. Hromadka recommends the Commission begin to review the building in the basement and work up to the top floor. Mr. Hromodka and Mr. Sullivan lead the group to the Golf & Tennis Clubhouse basement to review existing conditions and describe what is proposed. The group reviews the historic layout of the basement and how the existing layout is different. The group then moves up to the first floor and discusses where the proposed balcony on the south façade will be placed. Howard asks about the budget for the study and proposed design, and Mr. Lowd states the cost is $500,000, of which $400,000 was funded through a CPC grant, and $100,000 was funded from Golf & Tennis Commission reserves. The group then reviews the first floor, spending time on the porch and discussing public access, and then moves up to the second floor, where the Commission reviews the kitchen/food prep area, the stage and the great room, and the windows in the great room. Pearl leaves the Golf & Tennis Club at 8:48 a.m. The Commission continues to review the property, discussing pedestrian access, general public access, and how students may use the property as a cut through from the Folly Hill neighborhood to the Middle School. The group further discusses how to encourage use of the property as a community space, then moves on to review the exterior of the building and the immediate landscape surrounding the building. Following the detailed review of the building and features, Mr. Sullivan provides a presentation of the draft plans for the building, reviewing the concepts, goals for the space, and the changes that would be made. Commission members discuss the existing historic windows that remain in  Historic District Commission November 8, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2 the building, and the value of repairing versus replacing the building. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Hromadka discuss how the windows could be replaced using energy efficient glass and the impact such replacements would make on the overall energy use and efficiency at the clubhouse. Mr. Lowd and Mr. Hromadka review how the project might move forward, including the need for funding. Commission members ask if there is a cost estimate for the full building rehabilitation, and Mr. Hromadka responds that an estimate hasn’t been made yet due to the need to establish design details. Mr. Hromadka asks how the Commission’s review might differ from the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s review. Hutchings describes the Commission’s responsibility of determining whether the project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and states that the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s review will differ due to the fact that they hold a preservation restriction on the property. Commission members confirm they have no further questions at this time. 2. Adjournment Motion: Mason moves to adjourn. LaMont seconds. The motion carries 3-0 (Pearl having left the meeting at 8:48 a.m.) Meeting adjourned 10:48 a.m. Next meeting scheduled for 11.10.21.