HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-01-23 •
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION
A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday,
January 23, 1985, in the ground floor conference room (G-15~, Town Office
Building, Lexington. Present were Commissioners John L. Davies, Chairman,
and Linda J. McAulay, Secretary; and Associate Commissioners Stephen B.
Cripps, Mary Harding Nye, Walter S. Pierce, and Albert T. Pitt.
At 8:00 P.M. the application of the Halcyon Corporation was considered.
Nobody appeared on behalf of the applicant, but the drawings had been pro-
perly submitted earlier. The application was for a sign on the building at
1845 Massachusetts Avenue to read "SEBASTIAN'S", in 10" high gilded wood
letters, rounded in profile, and in Roman style. It was noted that the sign
conformed to the standards for the building which had been approved earlier,
and the proposal was VOTED.
While waiting for the next advertised hearing, there was discussion of
the second floor front windows at the Battle Green Inn. The Building Com-
missioner had contacted Mr. Davies by telephone to express his fear that the
deteriorated windows were a hazard. Mr. Davies had advised him that a re-
pair in wood could be made without any hearing, provided the design did not
change. A repair in vinyl clad wood, if of the same general design., would
still require a Certificate but, in Mr. Davies' opinion, if the Building
Commissioner believed it to be a matter of public safety the repair could
proceed immediately. Mr. Davies had suggested to the Building Commissioner
that, if the design were changed, then drawings would be required but a
telephone poll to receive consensus of the Commission might suffice to per-
mit an immediate start to the work prior to an advertised hearing.
At 8:20 P.M. Mr. Paul Tourigny appeared on behalf of Relationships
Video Introductions and Productions, Inc. with respect to a sign to be
erected at 1656 Massachusetts Avenue. The sign would read "Relationships
Video Inc." on a 60" x 9" board, matching the style of the sign for the
adjacent tenant. The drawings submitted were indefinite as to type style
and letter size, and the Chairman suggested that the hearing be continued
to February 20. The applicant felt that by that time he could have scale
drawings available. The continuance was agreed to.
At 8:30 P.M. Mr. Emanuele Ooscia and Mr. Charles Hagenah appeared on
behalf of the Town of Lexington regarding the proposed handicap access ramp
to the Ca Memorial Buildin at 160 Massachusetts Avenue. The ro osal
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includes addition of a granite step at the top of the existing steps to form
a level platform at the building doors, and the construction of a ramp to
access this platform from the southeasterly corner of the building. The
ramp would be concrete construction, flanked by low granite-capped walls
supporting steel handrails. The handrails would be black or brown, and the
Commissioners expressed a preference for black. There was discussion of the
ramp paving, which might be brick or, if funds permit, granite. The Com-
missioners expressed a general preference for granite. There would be
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION - 2 - January 23, 1985
shielded fluorescent lighting to light the ramp surface. The cheek walls
of the ramp structure were also discussed, They may be brick sheathed,
or alternatively they may be sand-blasted concrete. The Commissioners
expressed a willingness to accept concrete, provided the color and finish
were carefully controlled.
There was consensus among the Commissioners present to accept the ramp
design, but the hearing was continued to February 20 for the choices of
materials and will have additional detailed information on the lighting.
At 9:15 P.M. Mr. Coscia appeared again on behalf of the Town to dis-
cuss the Meriam Street parking lot. He said that the white barrels were
being removed, and the yellow markings would be painted over when weather
permits. He submitted photographs of afree-standing sign giving parking
regulations, and a group of three other signs attached to the building.
The free-standing sign was VOTED, but the signs on the building were not
approved. Mr. Coscia was asked to submit a coherent design that would con-
vey the necessary information without appearing to be ready-made signs
simply stuck onto the building. The hearing was continued to February 20.
At 9:30 P.M. Mr. A. F. Moscato, Jr., Facilities Manager for the Shaw-
mut County Bank, appeared on behalf of the bank in connection with the
awnings it had installed on the building at 1822 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr.
Davies pointed that three issues might be involved; the advertising logo of
the "Indian" symbol, the bright blue color of the awnings, and their archi-
tectural appropriateness to -the building. Mr. Cripps said that he felt
repeating the logo on each awning was excessive. Mr. Pitt said that he
felt the awnings cheapened the appearance of the building. Mr. Pierce
observed that the building was one of the better modern Georgian buildings
in the Center, and the awnings were not a part of the Georgian expression.
He mentioned that they were in conflict with the wood shutters, since it
was visually evident that the shutters couldn't shut with the awnings in
place. It was also observed that the color scheme of the original building
had been very carefully thought out, and the blue awnings were in conflict
with it.
Mr. Moscarto said that the bank management had felt the awnings offered
some feeling of privacy for customers in conference situations inside the
bank. Mrs. McAulay observed that the awnings were on the north, and there-
fore had no sun control function, and for affording privacy they were not
nearly as effective as interior curtains or blinds. It was unanimously
VOTED to disapprove the installation of any awnings on the north facade of
the 1822 Massachusetts Avenue building.
At 9:50 P.M. Mr. Richard Stopfel, of Stopfel Pederson, Inc., architects
and Mrs. Dorothy Stevens, librarian, appeared on behalf of the Christian
Science Reading Room at 1'736 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Stopfel presented a
rendering of a proposed reconstruction of the facade of the property and of
a new sign. The design included the moving of the entrance door toward the
right side of the facade to provide a single large display window. Mrs. Nye
expressed a preference for the existing center entrance.
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION - 3 - January 23, 195
The design would also remove the white paint from the brick pier to
the right of the entry. Mr. Stopfel said that this plan had the support
of the building owner. The sill of the display window would be 1LY" above
the sidewalk, to match the window of "Goodie's" next door.
The dimensions of the sign, too, would match those of Goodies', and
it would read "Christian Science READING ROOM" in Helvetica type face.
The construction of the sign would be cut out letters in a metal plate,
backed up with another plate, giving incised letters 3~8" to 1~2" deep.
The design was generally approved by the Commissioners present, but
there was not sufficient definite information on which to vote a Certifi-
cate. Miss Gilson pointed out that the time period since the original
application had expired, so it was agreed that the applicant will reapply
for a further hearing in February or March, at which time he will have
definite information as to color and material choices.
At 10;25 P.M. Mr. Dennis Lowe appeared for an informal discussion of
his proposed renovations at 52 Waltham Street. He presented sketches of
the building and an original architect's rendering of the building in its
original form. Mr. Lowe's efforts to restore the character of the building
were generally approved. Certain details, however, such as a proposed bow
window, were criticised as being out of character with the period of the
structure. The issue of "roof window" type skylights was discussed, and
several members felt they were acceptable on certain areas of the roof,
but were competitive with the dormers on certain other roof slopes, Mr.
Lowe will develop his designs further and return far a formal hearing at
a later date.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:1 Y.M.
~
I,ir2da J .L~P%icAulay l'
Secretary