Historic Preservation & Architectural Review Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COHOES HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 AT 8:00AM MEMBERS PRESENT: Daniele Cherniak, Chair Barbara Hildreth, Vice Chair Tony Kusaywa ABSENT: John Frainier Evan Lamb ALSO PRESENT: Sharon Butler, Assistant to Planning Chairperson Cherniak called the January 16, 2024 meeting of the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board to order at 8:09AM. Roll Call; Members present; Chairperson Cherniak, Vice Chair Hildreth, Member Kusaywa Absent; Evan Lamb Member Frainier DISCUSSION REGARDING 147 MOHAWK STREET Buyers of 147 Mohawk Street Meaghan and Scott Morrissey wanted to introduce themselves and talk about the potential of converting 147 Mohawk Street into apartments. Chairperson Cherniak; started with asking what they were planning to do with the building. Scott Morrissey stated they are looking at turning it into 12—16 units Chairperson Cherniak asked if there was going to be a common entrance. Scott Morrissey explained that they were planning on keeping the entrance on Mohawk Street and that there would more than likely be a requirement for them to have an elevator. Chairperson Cherniak; the think I have the most concern about is any changes on the front façade of the building. Do you have to have window openings to the bedrooms. Would it be possible to reconfigure that to the sides or back of the building to minimize the impact on the front of the façade of the building. Scott Morrissey this is exactly what we were looking for with getting with you guys and getting, come up with a plan. As you mention each bedroom will require windows for egress purposes with that being said I’d like to utilize the existing window openings to the best of our ability we certainly don’t plan on eliminating any of the windows I think we can work with what is there. I definitely can’t say that we wouldn’t be adding windows to the Mohawk Street side. As we move through this design, is it the Mohawk side of the building that we try not to impact that at all, we will do everything possible to minimize the amount of windows for that side of the building. Is it the Mohawk side of the building that is very important to you guys, we can do everything possible to minimize the amount of windows that get added to that side of the building. Daniele Cherniak; yes that would be ideal situation because that is the dominate façade of the building and the rest of it is less visible and less significant to the architectural of the building. So that would be the ideal case, that would definitely be something to consider, it is important that the structure be preserved so there might be some flexibility in considering our options of adding windows spaces. But as I said the most important thing is the preserve the front façade as much as possible given the conditions required. Scott Morrissey; I think that is very reasonable, if you guys are most concerned with the other 3 sides of the building then I can have more flexibility with the way I can draft these windows in. The more flexibility I have on those other 3 sides the more I will be able to work with you guys on the Mohawk side of the building. I think that is very reasonable. Chairperson Cherniak; so it that agreeable to other board members? Vice Chair Hildreth; yes Member Kusaywa; yes Chairperson Cherniak; ok so are there any other questions that either you have or board members have at this point? Member Kusaywa; is there parking for up to 16 apartments? Vice Chair Hildreth yes the back parking lot is where the doctor’s office and where the library is that is a big parking lot. Chairperson Cherniak; what about next to the building? Steve Napier; there are 2 lots next to the building. One lot is owned by the owner of the building, the way it is configured there is the building then a lot that is owned by the City and then there is a lot that is owned by the building owner. There are options of what we might consider with regard to the city property. And I think all of them lend themselves to supporting this project whether it be as a green space area, parking space, some combination thereof. Vice Chair Hildreth; maybe the LDC? S Napier; maybe the city, it is a city owned lot it is not LDC owned lot. Vice Chair Hildreth; ok Scott Morrissey; we also own the building at 141 Mohawk Street, so as far as keeping neighbors happy, we own the building at 141 so as far as stuff goes there is no problem with maintaining the properties. Chairperson Cherniak; ok any other topics for discussion at this point? Sharon; Scott if you are going to do anything with the façade just make sure you submit an application to me so I can get it in front of the board and they can review Chairperson Cherniak; any face of the building that can be seen from a public perspective, we like to see any exterior work that is planned Scott Morrissey; absolutely the communication will be wide open during the duration of this project. This is really still in its infancy we do have a contract for the church and property. This church comes with a vacant lot not the one the city owns, the other one. We have a contract for that and that is scheduled to be closed by the end of the month. So it is great to be able to have this time with you today to make sure that we have your support for this project before we close on this deal. I know we can work through little things that come up but this is definitely still in it’s infancy once we close on the property we are going to focus on cleaning up the inside the inside is a bit of a mess right now. We have to clean that out and then I can get our design team in there figuring out where these windows need to go and how we are going to accomplish that and obviously we hope that you guys are going to be with us every step of the way and we are working together and figure how to best maintain the outside of this building. This building from an exterior perspective is in incredible shape the brick is in great condition. There is very little that need to be repaired on the outside. It’s just the window openings that need some help, other than that this building is in excellent condition. We are very excited about this project. Chairperson Cherniak; thank you that is really good to hear. Thanks very much. Scott Morrissey; we look forward to working with you guys and we will keep you in the loop here as things progress. Chairperson Cherniak; thank you. Sharon asked if the board wanted to vote on their December meeting minutes. Decision was made to table it until the next meeting as this meeting was relatively informal. Adjournment: Meeting ended. 8:20 AM