2010-11-16-LEARY-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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and stabilization failed for lack of a second. Minimal stabilizing attempts were proposed. The Salemi report listed many problems. In the end as little as 15 % of the structure would be saved, this to his mind would make it a replica, not preservation. The money would not be available until the spring so it wouldn’t help get the house through the winter. The amount of money did not enter into his decision, but rather that it could not be historic preservation given how little of the original structure would remain. Betsey Weiss said that the Ad Hoc Leary Committee had received a letter from Americo Andrade whose firm rehabs existing buildings into affordable housing in Cambridge and works with CASCAP that builds affordable housing in Cambridge dated Oct. 1. st She then quoted from the letter “The cost of the work to rehabilitate the farm house would be in line with any new construction budgets and as such would not impinge or burden it in overall cost tabulations while at the same time exemplify a respect for the past and offer the hope for similar dwellings in the Lexington community could follow along the same paths when expansion needs are considered.” She then added that Ross Spear, an architect who rehabs buildings, had attended some of the Ad Hoc Leary meetings. Mr. Kinneen said that what mattered was “that meadow with that house.” The neighbors don’t know what’s inside and don’t care, so gutting the interior would be fine, just save the gorgeous house. Ross Speer said that the Task Force has looked at a lot of ideas. He had done a general walk around and felt it as a fairly solid house. However if the interior plan is kept as is, it would be strange for the proposed use. Arlene Belliveau, 67 Vine St. – Look at the house in front of St. Brigid’s for a contrast in process. Even if it ends up being a replica, she would want that. She remembers the barn and a cow or two on the site. The street can’t handle additional dwellings. The traffic should be studied first before any decisions are made about the number of dwellings. Mr. Hemond said that only 15% salvageable sounded way too low. There seems to be a mind set that the house has to go. Perhaps it doesn’t need to be brought up to code. Anne Engelhart, 107 Vine – She loves the fact that the house can be seen on 19 century th maps. She realizes that it is difficult to make it useable and maybe an evocation of the farmhouse could be a compromise. Mr. Kinneen said that it is the last house of its type in Lexington. It is worth the extra money to save it.