HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-05-19 , .
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H18TORYC DI3~RICTS COMMISSION
MINtTTES OF A MEETING HELD ON MAY 19 ~ :.1971
The Historic Districts Commission ndet on Wednesday, May 19, 19?l, at
?s 30 P.M. at the New England Telephone Company building at 73 Waltham
Street, Lexington. Present wars Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith,. Chair-
man; George E. Graves=, Donald J.'Shaw; Georgia H. Williams; and Associate
Commissioners George W. Emery= Albert T. Pitt; and S. Lawrence Whipple..`.
Present for the petitioner were John W. Gossett, Planning Tngineer; Walter
J. Aspinwall, Engineer; and Miss Eno, Secretary. Mr. Sheehan, head of
maintenance at the Lexington building, took the persons present on a tour
of the building, explaining the operations Arid equipment in the building.
It was specifically pointed out that it would be impossible to install a
stairwell to the penthouse from the second floor because of the oablea,
etc. installed Suet below the ceiling.
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At 8s30 P.M. an ad3ourned hearing an the application of the New Eng-
land Telephone and Telegraph Company for a Certificate with respect to the
erection of an addition to the: building at 73 Waltham Street, which is
within the Battle Green District, was held in the Bird Room of the Cary
Memorial Building, Lexington with the members of the Commission and reprew
sentatives of the petitioner mentioned above all present. Mrs Emery was
appointed to serve for :Philip B. Parsons, Secretary, who was unab7.e_to be
gresent. It wan moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED that Mrs. Williams
serve as Secretary Pro Tem. Mr. Gossett submitted three sets of scale
drawings of the proposed addition and plot plena to the Commission. He
stated that they would like to have a 36 inch railing along the catwalk as
now have although this is not on the plans and the members of the Commis-
' sion agreed that this was a feasible request. It was also decided that the
grass strip between the building, and fence be extended to the plot line.
The hearing was ad3ourned at 9=3? P.M,
An informal meeting was-held at 9e38'P.M, with representatives of the
Trustees of the Supreme Council.. of The 1lncient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry regarding their property at lift Massachusetts Avenue, which
is within the. Munroe Tavern Aistrict,. Free®nt were George A.?i8wburyy
Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Buffalo, New York; Stanley F.
Maxwell, Executive Secretary bf the Supreme Council4 and the following
representatives of the architectura7.`firm of Shepley, Buli'inch, Richardson,
and Abbott -Hugh Shepley, Jean Paul Carlhian, Donald Tellalan, and .John
Kanaatab. Mr, Carlhian submitted a plan of the property showing the pro-
posed parking. lot and second exit ton Marren 12oad. He stated.'that.
auditorium would be the furthest building from Massacshusetts Avenue; one
gallery for loan exhibitions and the administrative offices would be ad-
3acsnt to the circular driveway area;,the".library would be nearest to
Marrett Road; and the other three galleries-would face Massachusetts Aver
nue. A scale model showing the proposed buildings-and locations with the
trees and nearby properties was shown as were scale sketches showing rough
plans of the proposed buildings to show the series of pitched roof lines
and the interior courtyard planned so as to preserve the trees on the land.
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2 - ; May 14, 14?1
HISTORIC DISTRICTS CDM~[SSIQN ~ •
It will caver~a fairly large :area wth.atorage vaults propoeed for under., ~
the 'building's nearest the driveway and the three galleries facing the Ave-~', ,
nuer,willbe connected by glass...aorridt~rs. Th® arohitect9 are fairly.aon
fident that all trees. now on the, property will be preserved as they do note .
plan to ohange any of 'the existing. grades, Narse of the buildings are
planned to exceed 1ZQ or 50 feet above grade. Mr, Newbury stated that they
told the architects what the Counai,l neaeded and the architects have ao~.
up with this preliminary plan which will suit the needs of the Council.
Mr. Jaquith asked if~the buildings would be constructed at one time and
Mr, Newbury stated, that they planned to raise the money and build the ern-"
t3.re pro3eat at one time. They plan to haeve 3{~,000,squara feet for exhia x;
. bit halls, 38y'000 square feet of storage beloat ground, and the-total com-
plex will consist of 1,000 square feet. Then followed a brief discussion
of the involvement of the Board of Appeals and Jaqui,ttt stated, that if
the Board of Appeals does not approve. rezoning for the proposgd use of the
land,; that the pro3eot can not proceed, Mr.. Jaquith stated that he would
like to meet.at the property with the'ar~htects so that they can explain
. ..why the present building :cannot be used anti to point out proposed locations
of the complex. It was decided to meet Saturday, May 22nd, at 8:45.A.H;
at the property. Mr. Jaquith also stated, that he would like to 'hays: an
idea of what the exterior of the buildings, particularly these aloseat tD
Massachusetts Avenue, will look l.lee, Mr, Newbury aaloed the Commission to
view the property add then give the Council an honest opinion as to wheth®r
or not they Dan go ahead with their plans. lie added that they "love this
property", that i't is ideal for what -they have in mind, that they are de-
lighted that it is in an historic Brea, and they want to put~up a building
that they can vse and be proud_of. This :meeting Was ad3ourned at iit35 P:M.
Mr. Jaquith stated that-the Tors has regsested an opinion frog the
Cganndssion, vr].th respect tA,'the acquisition by t~ Trntn cf the. foreebr..:.
~a.theri~e Rs~rington property as this,aaqusition will be in the Warraa`h
for the .Tun® Town Meeting. lYTr, Jaquith was instructed to advise the Tom.
of the Com?ai.asions' approval, RP,aaqusition provided the':building is
moiished axxi grassed Doer,.. Jaquith stated that an application fora.
Certificate had 'been rea43ved from Dr William Graham with respect tip` the
erection of aluminum siding te..nwtch that already installed and the ins..- .
stalLation of aluminum shutters on the buldir~ at 21 Muzzey Street and
also an application .has been received ;from Siierei.n
Willitens Paint Co. with '
.respect to erection Df signs Yor the property at i? Waltham.Street.
The meting was adjourned at 1ik45 P.M. ,
orgiai H, Williams'
ecretary Pro Tern '
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