Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 22, 2023 I. Call to Order: 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Richard Unger, Shaun Andriano, Austin Erickson, Christopher Marney, City Counsel, and Sylvia Jimison, Development Staff WebEx: Zakhar Berkovich Excused: Dr. Dean Bennett III. Conflicts of Interest – none. IV. Adoption of Prior Meeting's Minutes A. May 2nd B. May 25th The May 2nd minutes were tabled due to not having a quorum. May 25th minutes were approved with changes presented by Commissioner Andriano and Commissioner Unger. V. Call for Members of Public to Speak on Agenda Items – there were no members from the public to speak on Agenda Items. VI. Tabled Applications A. Consideration for approval submitted by Jesse Burns to replace the front porch railing, to paint the house smoky blue with white trim, and the replacement of shingles with Asphalt Architectural Shingles. The premises is located in the Union Street Corridor Historic District at 1307 Union St. Mr. Burns appeared before the commission and stated that he was contacted by Austin to attend the 6/22/2023 meeting so that things could move forward and if he could send all the project documents to him. He stated he sent the documents with all the materials that he would be looking to use for the project. He said the three windows in the back that can be seen from the street will be wood clad. The windows are 30 inches wide and 36 inches tall, and double hung wood windows. There is a three-inch space in between the series. The pillars are Newport with wrought iron railings; eight feet tall and two railings are six feet on either side; other handrails are three feet. The commissioner asked if there were any questions after Mr. Burns provided an overview of the project. A question was asked if it’s going to be tall enough for Codes Department requirements and about the 36- inch railings? A commissioner responded, residential railing size is 36 inches and commercial railing is 42 inches. Also, the commissioners asked an additional question about the elevation and that it doesn’t match the windows. How do you intend to infill in between the windows, what kind of trim, and what color will be painted? Mr. Burns responded he will be painting the same color as the rest of the house. Mr. Burns responded that he did the drawing before he picked out the windows when he checked around for windows and it would take 4 months for custom windows compared to 6 weeks. He offered to provide another drawing with the windows that had been selected. The commissioner responded that was not what he was looking for and wanted to know how he plans to fill between the windows. Mr. Burns said a smoky blue for the trim, around the windows will be white, would fill cedar shingles because the shingles that are on the house are asbestos. RESOULTION Commissioner Andriano made a motion to grant 1307 Union Street application as submitted with the following modifications and Commissioner Unger seconded: There was a discrepancy between the submitted windows and the elevation and to clarify that the windows submitted are Andersen windows with wood inside and with wood outside, a pine finish, white, and 30 inches wide by 36 inches high. We find it acceptable to use these windows as a replacement for the windows which were deteriorated and inoperable on the back of the house. The remaining space created from the removal of the windows is to be filled with new windows with wood trim. To be painted white to match the adjacent windows with a header and trim similar to the adjacent windows to maintain the architectural language from the front to the back of the house. The railing as submitted we find acceptable which is a black aluminum railing similar to what previously existed and had been removed and deteriorated. • Windows to be painted white to match the adjacent windows with a header and trim similar to the adjacent windows to maintain the architectural language from the front to the back of the house. • Andersen windows with wood inside and with wood outside, a pine finish, white, and 30 inches wide by 36 inches high. • Must look uniform. • Sherwin Williams Smoky Blue paint • Home Depot Architectural Shingles • Black Aluminum Hampton Railing Panel 6’W X 36”H, Newport 8’ Corner Column 1- 1/4”, and Newel Post Flange 1-1/4” Motion carried unanimously. This is in coordination with standards 2,6, and 10. Type II SEQR VII. New Applications A. Consideration for approval submitted by Rudy Brown to replace/repair front porch. The premises is located in the Union Street Corridor Historic District at 1005 Union St. Mr. Brown came before the commission and stated the project started as a simple project. He said he talked to Matt Smith last year about the age of the property and that the weather had destroyed a lot of the wood on the front porch that needed to be replaced. He felt it was a safety issue. He started repairing the deck/porch and it moved into the year 2023. He met with Austin to talk about the project. He did apply for a permit and was granted a permit by the Codes Department. He had to bring the lower deck/porch up to code. This was more than he intended to do, but someone filed a complaint and caused the Codes Department to investigate the construction of the porch. He is before the commission to learn what he needs to do to finish the deck/porch. He stated he finished the footing last week and the old footing had to be replaced. All the interior has been done. Counsel Marney informed Mr. Brown that he was given approval for very limited construction to do the internal components for the porch but had to appear before the commission for all the exterior finishings. The commissioners wanted to know if the rumble stone would be left in place and if not, could a similar stone be used. Commissioner Andriano made a motion to grant the application with the following conditions and seconded by Commissioner Unger with the following conditions: • Stone and cornice to be reproduced. • The railings to be reproduced. • Decorative metal supports. • To specify decking materials. • 1x6 pressure treated wood to be used. • All porch trim to be repaired and refinished with the original kind of materials. • Paint colors for the building, porch trim, hand railings -higher steel railings/metal railings, previously approved by the commission previously. • Rebuild of the panels needs to be the same.  • The final product look exactly as it appears in photos presented in application • All permits are to be secured for the project and work to be completed by June 22, 2024. Motion carried unanimously. This is in coordination with standards 2,6, and 9. Type II SEQR B. Consideration for approval submitted by Keith Dayer to replace existing porch posts. The premises is located in the Stockade Historic District at 24 Front St. Mr. Dayer came before the commission with a completed application to replace existing porch posts. He thinks he has been successful with finding a contractor to do the work for the porch posts. He learned that a prior contractor he hired never filed a permit when he started the project 2 ½ years ago. Now rot has taken place at the bottom of all four columns and it’s no longer a minor project. He thinks that replicating the columns will be less expensive than trying to piece them together. He did drawings of the columns on graph paper, and they are only 5 inches or 6x6 stock. He went onto say that the railings are sturdy. The spindles would need to be raised. Commissioner Andriano made a motion to grant the application with the following conditions and seconded by Commissioner Berkovich with the following conditions: • Repair, replacement of damaged existing columns and existing railings. • Match existing columns as previously designed. • Maintain integrity of property and the porch to its historic character. • All colors were prior approval. • Support to allow – solid posts. • 5x5 solid posts to be used. • Carve post to look like existing posts. Motion carried unanimously. This is in coordination with standards 2,5,6, and 9. Type II SEQR VIII. Miscellaneous C. Vice Chair election. Commissioner Yager nominated Rich Unger as Vice Chair for the Historic District Commission. Motion carried unanimously. VIV. Adjournment at 8:01 p.m.