1977-08-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i • HISTORIC DISTRIGTS GOMMISSION A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday, August 24, 1977, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Torn Office Building, Lexington. Present xere Commissioners John R. Packard, Chairmani Georgia H. Williams, Secretary= Roland B. Greeley: Amelia. G. Samoylenkop and Asso- ciate Commissioner Oliver F. Hooper. Mr. Hooper was appointed to serve for Commissioner S. Lawrence Whipple who was unable to be present. A hearing was held at 8sf0 P.M. on the applications of Balaton. Inc. and Realty World-Heritage Homes for Certificates with respect to changes in the signs on the building at 703 Massachusetts Avenue, which is xithin the Past Village District. Mr. Packard read the legal notices and made reference to the two applications. Richard Strauss, President of Walston, Inc., and G. Jack Pliades, owner of Realty World-Heritage Homes, represented the applicants. Also present xere Roger Farrox, Managing Director of Balaton Ltd. of Pngland~ Plis,abeth Reinhardt, member of the Historical Com- mission= and Mr. and Mrs. Francis Fuery of 698 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Strauss stated that the two businesses had switched locations and there- fore wished to change the signs on the front and side of the building. Mr. Strauss sh samples of some of Balston~s products and submitted three copies of the proposed sign changes for the front of the building as xell as letterhead and business cards. He stated that the c~tce colors are blue and black on xhite background and that they rant to use this combina- tion of colors for their signs. The proposed sign would have a xhite back- ground xith 'Walston, Inc." in blue capital letters and the logo and other words would be in black letters. He stated that occasionally they have meetings and have out-of-state a~].esmen at their headquarters and want the corporate colors and logo on their sign for identification. Mr. Pliades submitted a proposed Realty World-Heritage Homes sign xhich would have black letters and multi-colored logo on a xhite backboard on the sign cn the side of the building. He stated that six months ago he had joined "Realty World"' which is a xorld wide real estate franchise. Mr. Greeley asked if he planned to use three colors and Mr. Pliades said that he did. Mr. Packard asked what is wrong xith the present color scheme? Mr. Pliades said that he is looking for the franchise identity and wants the multi-color logo on his sign. Mr. Packard stated that he feels this xould add a lot of white, blue, black, and other colors on the red brick building xhich is one of the historic buildings in the Town. Mrs. Samoylenko commented that these are not as sophisticated signs as the building xarrants and not in keeping with the character of the building. Mr. Strauss commented that the signs are relatively small in comparison to the sire of the building. He added that they do not want something there that people do not rant but do rant a sign that they can "live xith". He said that he does not rant gold let- ters and added that he would be xilling to consider xhite xith black let- ters. Mrs. Williams said that she likes the black background and gold let- ters on the existing signs and feels that they are in keeping with the build- ing. She added that she had talked with Richard Morehouse, an architect and member of the Historical Commission, and he said that he felt the existing signs xere good and he hoped that the colors would remain as nor exist. Mr: Francis Fuery said that the proposed signs are "horrible"'and that he hopes