Historical Commission

SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 MINUTES A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on September 18, 2024 at 6:00PM via Zoom Virtual Meeting. Present were Mark Meche, Vijay Joyce, Milo Martinez, Larry Spang (Chair). Staff: Patti Kelleher. Absent: Rebecca English, Kelly Tyler-Lewis, Margarida Goncalves. 29 Washington Square–continuation Bertram Home applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows. The applicant was not present. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to continue the application to October 9 meeting. Mr. Martinez seconded the motion. Roll Call: Meche, Joyce, Martinez, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 31 Chestnut Street–continuation Michael Selbst applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for an EV charging state after the fact. The applicant was not present. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to continue the application to the October 9 meeting. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Joyce, Martinez, Meche, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 19½ Washington Square–continuation BPM Productions applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install lift on rear of building. The applicant was not present. Ms. Kelleher reported that she has not yet received the requested legal opinion for the lift installation. Public comment: Richard Brooks noted having undertaken a title search on the property in question and determined that Biff Michaud did not own Kimball Court. VOTE: Mr. Meche motioned to continue the application to the October 9 meeting. Mr. Joyce seconded the motion. Roll Call: Meche, Martinez, Joyce, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. (Mr. Michaud arrived after the vote had already taken place. Mr. Michaud noted having forwarded proof of neighbor’s approval of the lift installation to Ms. Kelleher. Chair Spang said that the Building Inspector would need to determine whether additional safety precautions were necessary before the discussion could move forward.)  Historical Commission meeting minutes – September 18, 2024 Page 2 of 6 10 Flint Street–continuation Mark Gelaides applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install heat pump minisplit. VOTE: Mr. Meche motioned to continue the application to the October 9 meeting. Mr. Joyce seconded the motion. Roll Call: Meche, Joyce, Martinez, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 387 Essex Street–continuation Joshua Snyder and Ashley Gutierrez Snyder applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install heat pumps. The applicants were not present. VOTE: Mr. Meche motioned to continue the application to the October 9 meeting. Mr. Joyce seconded the motion. Roll Call: Martinez, Meche, Joyce, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 10 Flint Street Mark Gelaides applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace front support columns. Documents & Exhibits: - Application: August 21, 2024 - Photographs Mr. Gelaides noted that a painting job was being undertaken. Contractors indicated that the columns were in rough shape. Mr. Gelaides wanted confirmation that replacing the columns could be executed through a Certificate of Non-Applicability as an in-kind repair. Ms. Kelleher noted from the guidelines that “New elements must replicate existing details, dimensions, and materials,” thus signifying that Mr. Gelaides could apply for a Certificate of Non-Applicability. VOTE: Mr. Martinez motioned to accept the applicant’s withdrawal of application without prejudice. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Joyce, Martinez, Meche, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 21 North Street Jacob Rego applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install radon mitigation system. Documents & Exhibits: - Application: August 21, 2024 - Photographs Mr. Rego said that a radon exhaust pipe would need to be installed on the rear elevation of house. Aerial view of location of piping was shown. Ms. Kelleher said that the piping would be visible from Federal Street. A mockup of the piping’s placement was indicated in a drawing. A 3” or 4” diameter PVC vent pipe was proposed in a quote the applicant received. Mr. Rego said that a fan would be installed at bottom of piping and would not be visible from Federal Street (said to be below the applicant’s fence line). Street view images were shown. Mr. Rego indicated that the pipe would be painted to match  Historical Commission meeting minutes – September 18, 2024 Page 3 of 6 house. Mr. Rego did not know how far the piping would extend above the roof in response to Mr. Joyce’s question. Mr. Joyce did not want to see the pipe rise higher than the chimney. Mr. Rego was open to seeing if the installer could put the piping along the existing gutter. Chair Spang wondered if the vent pipe could be taken up the side of the rear single story addition instead of the main house. Chair Spang was in favor of a straight run pipe versus the proposed drawing which showed the pipe bending up the back of the house. Mr. Meche suggested running the pipe up the chimney, which Mr. Rego said was not currently in use. Ms. Kelleher said that a gable end straight run would likely be more visible than the proposed placement. Mr. Joyce said that the distance from public view was mitigating in its own right. No public comment. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to approve the application with the following options: running the piping up the chimney (preferred); installing as presented (painted to match house); or tucking the piping in behind the downspout (painted to match house). Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Martinez, Meche, Joyce, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 19 North Street Austin Gilliland applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for window replacement. Documents & Exhibits: - Application: August 27, 2024 - Photographs Ms. Gilliland said that eight windows were in need of replacement. Ms. Gilliland said that the same windows approved previously in one of the other units of the building would be used in this application. Images of windows to be replaced were shown. Site plan was shown indicating locations of windows. Ms. Kelleher said that these windows had been used on the main building on a past application; the desired windows being Jeld-Wen clad double-hung windows 1 over 1 to match existing trim color. Mr. Meche clarified that a window with a green “X” would not be replaced, which Ms. Gilliland affirmed. Mr. Joyce said that the windows to match should also have half screens. Ms. Gilliland said that the windows have clapboards around them rather than brick in response to Chair Spang’s question. No public comment. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to approve the application as submitted. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Meche, Joyce, Martinez, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 1 Hamilton Street Keely Meyer applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to rebuild rear deck. Documents & Exhibits: - Application: August 27, 2024 - Photographs Leo Kraunelis, contractor, was present.  Historical Commission meeting minutes – September 18, 2024 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Kraunelis said back deck, stair (stringers), and railings were in a state of rot. Mr. Kraunelis said that railing was likely built 10-15 years ago, with PVC wrap over the posts. Chair Spang questioned if the proposed rebuild differed from existing. Mr. Kraunelis said that pressure-treated column with wood on exterior currently features, in response to Mr. Meche’s question. Ms. Kelleher noted that the inventory form did indicate some type of rear deck or entry structure in 1996. The replacement product was said to be TimberTech Classic Composite Railing. Ms. Kelleher noted that the current porch design was approved in 2005 for which the plan/drawings were on file and shown. Photographs were shown of property that featured an enclosed balcony on the second floor. Mr. Kraunelis said that a product like Versatex would be used for the columns. Chair Spang said that the selected manufacturer’s pickets did not match desired historic spacing. Mr. Kraunelis said that the selected pickets were pre-fabricated and could not be altered. Mr. Meche wanted to see better replication of existing elements. Ms. Kelleher noted that pickets with appropriate spacing were previously approved for a rear deck on the corner of Cambridge and Beckford. Mr. Martinez said that the manufacturer was Intex. Chair Spang said that Intex manufacturer could allow applicant to match the second floor details mentioned by Mr. Meche. Ms. Kelleher referenced a past photograph where a post on the rear deck terminated along the sidelight. Mr. Kraunelis was open to using Intex or a different manufacturer that could better replicate the desired look. Chair Spang was in favor of maintaining more traditional (as opposed to modern) spacing. No public comment. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to approve the application with condition that the design was in-kind with the following changes; addition of a post at the door rather than the railing dying into the 2x6; using Intex with spacing to match post from the second floor; columns to be wrapped with flat stock, matching what had existed prior to being taken apart for repairs; add a band a few inches from the top of post (a square 1- by); painted white to match house trim (except for the decking); with ogee band molding. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Martinez, Joyce, Meche, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. 300 Lafayette Street Teasie Goggin applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for architectural shingles. This application was considered under the minor change category per the Historical Commission policy regarding architectural roof shingles. No abutter objection was received, and the Certificate was issued on September 16, 2024. 11 Lynn Street Beth Kacherian applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for window replacement. Documents & Exhibits: - Application: September 2, 2024 - Photographs  Historical Commission meeting minutes – September 18, 2024 Page 5 of 6 Michael Deleon was present on behalf of the owner. Mr. Deleon said that 16 windows would be replaced with Andersen 400 Series Woodwright double-hung 6 over 1 ratio, exterior trim to match casing and sill. Photographs of the home were shown featuring aluminum siding. Chair Spang favored seeing consistency in terms of what ratio of lites would be installed: at present some were 6 over 1, others were 6 over 6. The home was said to have been built circa 1837-1847. Mr. Deleon said that no exposed timbers featured in the home, in response to Mr. Joyce’s question. Chair Spang and Mr. Joyce favored 6 over 6 windows. Mr. Deleon said that casing around window would match abutter’s property (an image was shown on Google street view). Mr. Deleon said that the insert of window would fit against the existing jamb. Mr. Deleon said that the windows to be installed would feature insulated glass, thus storms would not be needed. Mr. Deleon said that extensions of sill past the trim (“horns”) would not be possible beyond a couple inches. Mr. Deleon said that the existing trim would be removed with flat casing with band molding reapplied to match existing. Mr. Joyce recommended Brosco molding (specifically B469, B470, or B471, all of which were the same shape, common Victorian molding). Chair Spang recapped the project to include Andersen Woodwright 400 Series, 6 over 6, casing around to match existing, sill to match existing, Brosco band molding around the casing to be coordinated in the field, black to match existing, with half screens. No public comment. VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to approve the application to the specifications: Andersen Woodwright 400 Series, 6 over 6, casing around to match existing, sill to match existing, Brosco band molding around the casing to be coordinated in the field, black to match existing, with half screens. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Martinez, Meche, Joyce, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. The House of the Seven Gables Tea House and Barn A vote was held to accept preservation restriction for The House of the Seven Gables Tea House and Barn per requirements of the Community Preservation Act. Ms. Kelleher said that an SHC vote was required given that Mass Historic had already completed their own review. No public comment. VOTE: Mr. Martinez motioned to approve acceptance of preservation restriction. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. Roll Call: Joyce, Meche, Martinez, Spang were in favor and the motion so carried. Other Business October Meetings Ms. Kelleher asked if members were available on October 23, in the event that October 16 meeting would be moved. It was decided that meetings for October would occur on October 9 and October 16, the October 2 meeting having been previously moved to October 9 due to holiday. Minutes  Historical Commission meeting minutes – September 18, 2024 Page 6 of 6 VOTE: Mr. Meche moved to approve the April 17 minutes. Mr. Martinez seconded the motion. VOTE: Joyce, Meche, Martinez, Spang were in favor and the motion carried. Adjournment VOTE: Mr. Joyce motioned to adjourn. Mr. Meche seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion so carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM. Respectfully submitted, Dan Graham, Historical Commission Clerk