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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-09-21 • f¢sTORZC DzsTRZCTS cor~ttssiox The Historic Districts Commission held a meting at 7e58 P.M. on Tues~ day, September 2i, 1971, in the Bird Room oP the. Cary Memorial Building, Lexington. Present were Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman; Philip B. Parsons, Secretary; George E. Graves; Donald J. Shams; and Associate Com- missionera George W. Emery; Albert T. Pitt; and. 3. Laxrence Whippl®. Mr. Jaquith appointed Mr. Pitt to serve For Georgia H. Williams who was unable to ba pressat. Because of the number of persons present, the meeting was ad3ourned to Cary Ha71. An adjourned hearing was held at 8105 P.M. in Cary Hall on the applies cation of Minute Man Park Realty Trust for a Certificate of Appropriates®ss with respect to the erect3.on of a three-story bnilding on the premises bounded by Massachusetts Avenu®, Mariam Street, Depot Square, and Depot Plaoe. Present for the applicant were Ernest Giroux and George Matheson, Trustees; Robert Neiley, Architect; and Thomas Taylor, Attorney. Also prey sent were Alan Adams and Stephen Politi, a reporter, for the Lexington Minute~Man; Robert Cataldo, Chairman, F'4~ed Bailey, and Alfred Husa of the Board of Selectmen; Erik Lund of the Planning Board.; $lizabeth Flynn of the Appropriations Committee; Robert Singston of the Capital Expenditures Com- mittee; Elisabeth Clarke, Chairman of the Cary Library Trustees; Howard Patterson, Treasurer, and Mar3orie Blanohard, Recording Secretary, of the Lexington Historical Society; and approximately 8990 other interested persons. Mr. Jaquith stated this is an ad3ourned hearing, the July 28th hearing on the application having been adjourned. FIe stated to clarify procedure and discussion that under the Historic Districts Act, the Commisaioni 1. has no control over zoning and parking 2. has practically no control over size, only if way of doing building imrolves size 3. qu®stions of architectural design vary from person to person. Attorney Thomas Taylor stated that this application for a Certifioate of Appropriateness has gone along for some time now. Mr. Taylor said that it is not correct to say that these are entirely new plans but that they are the original plans xith modifioations. The original application was filed on March 9, 1971 and there have been many extensions of that applicar tion. After the June Town Meeting there were several informal meetings with the Commission and then the hearing on July 28th xith more informal meetings following that hearing. He said that the plan in last weeks Lexington Minute-Man is not what the owners xant and they do not intend to build that building. The building proposed is essentially the original plan and this is the only building for which they want a Certificate. The owners re3ect the assumption that to be appropriate the building mast be of colonial design aril they do not believe that other Historic Districts • HISTORIC DISTRICTS COI~IISSION Page 2 September 21, 1971 Commissions in other towns require colonial design. They do not intend to produce a "colonial" building. The owners realize that this will be the most important building built in I.®xington center in mat~q`years. They do not believe in fake colonial and they are unwilling to compromise this dew sign anymore. Both of the owners are life long residents of Lexington and they are willing to let the pro3ect "drop" unless they get this building being presented tonight. Mr. Jaquith asked if the Commission is being requested to act on these drawings only and t1~at no earlier presentations are to be considered. Mr. Neiley said that they are aware of the sensitivity of the site and the prob~? lam of combining residential and commercial buildings in one structure bat added that the owners must make a profit. He stated that 1t was a very con» aervative building with brick bearing walls, pitched roofs, regularly spaced steel casement windows, good red water struck brick to be used, granite lin- tale over the windows to add character, and the basic forms have precedence in Boston and other historic areas. He stated that it is misguided nostal*~ gia to put. in small pane windows and that they feel large pane glass display windows are necessary on the first floor. He said that they feel this 20th century building will live in perfect harmony with 18th century buildings instead of having an imitation building which is fraudulent. Modern build-~ ings wearing "colonial wallpaper outside" are ridiculous. In Lexington there is a contrast between "fake" colonial and "real" colonial and that "real" colonial buildings are terribly costly to erect. If have Rookefeller money, then can rebuild a Williamsburg. He said that he feels "fake" colonial is a mockery to true colonial and that this is a conservative 1971. building that will fit in nicely in this location. He said that they have tried to make a series of small buildings xhich is very tradit3.ona1 to break the building up into a smaller scale which they hope will make it fit in with other build-~ ings in the area. The building will be brick and have brick below the first floor windows. The signboard above the store fronts will be painted white with hopefully gold lettered signs. There will be a granite lintel and the roof will be lead coated copper. Mr. Jaquith said that a r?umber of the features have been discussed at great length over the last six xeeks and asked if these current designs are unchangeable. Mr. Neiley said that in principle they expect the building to be like the drawings submitted tonight. Mr. Jaquith asked if these draw«~ inga are completely unchangeable. Mr. Neiley said that they were not working drawings so will possibly have some changes. Mr. Jaquith asked if changes can be made. Mr. Neiley said that they xere not absolutely inflexible. Mr. Taylor said that perhaps slight changes might be made by the Commission= a few minor ones perhaps. Mr. Jaquith stated that, when the Commission issues a Certificate, the Commission issues it on plans presented but oan. add praW visions that specific features may be resubmitted for approval if necessary. Mr. Taylor said that this is the plan the owners are standing with. Mr. Jaquith asked about substituting a slate roof for the lead coated copper and 1~. Taylor said that changing to a slate roof is not acceptable to the owners. Mr. Jaquith said that no one has seen these specifio drawings before tonight. i - ~ • HISTORIC DISTASCTS COM1itSSION ~ Page 3 September 21, 1971 Mr. Jaquith th®n opened the meeting for questions from the floor ter gardirtg feats about the building. Mary Louise Touart of 5 Comptiiax: Circle asked why the Commission faW voted a slate roof and Mr. Jaquith replied that this is a high, large bui.ld» ing and it is felt that a slate roof xould pull it doxn somewhat. A resi- dent of j2 Middle Street asked a queation about the xindoxs and Mr. Neiley answered that they had moved the first floor xindows back 3' and. the second and third floor xindows beak 8". Jacqueline Davison of 86 Spring Street asked, if this plan is not approved, will it be dropped. Will the present owners keep the land or attempt to cell itY Mr. Jaquith said that these may not be appropriate questions at this time and that perhaps the owners did not xish to answer the questions. lit. Taylor said that the present thinking is that they vrill retain the land. James Orr of 1 Oakland Street asked about the height in respect to the Adams Building. A member of Hastille~Neiley's staff said that perhaps 5'' to 10• higher. The building is 42• high to top of roof and certainly not over 45•. Philip John Cadle of 15 Meriam Street suggested that perhapa a scale model of the Center of Lexington oould be made xhich xould be extrenbely helpw ful xith regard to this building. Mr. Jaquith said that a letter had been directed to the Planning Board and that, although the Planning Board could have done so, they had not referred it back to the Historic Districts Com- mission. lam. Cadle said that he feels a scale model xould be very helpful. He eantinned by saying, that assume a Certificate is issued, ghat differ- enaes might come up. Mr. Neiley said that in xarking ont how to build, changes xould depend on atr~zctural type chosen. Hr. Neiley said that the height x111 vary ± 2f to the windoxs may vary 1" to 2", spacing of haft tens on roof might vary ± 2" to 3" and it is conceivable that, xhen the meohanical systems are designed, they may have to have breathing space. Bradford Giddings of 3 Stetson Street asked if all are the same buildM ing or if sow era different versions. Mr. xeiley said that all are the same building. Howard Patterson of 123 Blake Road said that he failed to understand the reluctance on the part of the owners to build a colonial building. Why not build a colonial building? Mr. Friedman of 13 Somerset Road asked, if muntins wexe installed in the.xindoxs, xould they be plastic. I~Ir. Neiley said that no muntins would be installed in the xindaws. John Damaine of 16 Mariam Street said that it xas terrible getting out of 2ieriam Street nox and he xondered if they had considered this problem. I~lr. Jaquith said that this was up to the 9eleatmen but he is in sympathy as he has to use Mariam Street. Mr. Patterson again asked xhy the reluctance to putting up a colonial building. Mr. Jaquith said that the owners and architect feel this is the building they want to put up and they are entitled to present any :kind of building they want. The Historic Districts Commission will make deoision on whether or not to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness. ~ • HI37~DRtC DISTRICTS COi~iISSION ~ Page 4 September 21, 1971 Mrs. Cadle said that it was rather stark and asked if there would be aqy* landscaping. Mr. Neiley said that these were architectural drawings only. John Campbell of lO0 Hartwell Road asked if the Commission can legalw ly hold up construction of the building if it is not considered appropriate. Mr. Jaquith said that there is a procedure under the Act that the F~i].ding Inspector can issue a permit only if the Commission issues a Certificate. It was asked if it is too late legally for a referendum to over-ride the June Town Meeting. Mr. Jaquith said that this was not applicable at this time. Elisabeth Whitman of 9 Demar Road read a statement in which it was stated that colonial architects designed for that period= our architecture should be expressive of today; can make central area simulated colonial or can let private enterprise erect current style. Charles Sullivan of 5 Castle Road said that this was the first sensible thing said this evening. Mary Lazarus of 22 Whitman Road asked if yon honestly feel this is a modern building or are you compromising. Mr. Neiley said that they xere compromising somewhat and that, if they had a free hared, the building would be more startling. Marie Roberts of ~ Munroe Road asked about parking and entrances. Fem. N®iley said that Depot Plaos is narrow and that it was 17~-• wide bat in these plans is now 20• wide. There xkll be a ramp with off• i street parking with easy access to the building. This ramp will be 40• wide. Pstsr Nelson of 3 Oakland Street said that the architect speaks of architecture and profit and that the first floor would be for stores. He asked what the second and third floors will be used for. Mr. N®iley said that they would be used for apartments. Mr. Nelson then asked how mat~q apartments, and Mr. Taylor said that that was a Hoard of Appeals question. Mr. Nelson said that they have not spoken of functionalism of the building. Mr. Jaquith said that there is parking in the basement. Mr. Taylor said that the Board of Appeals had issued the necessary permits. Mr. Nelson asked how many people would be in the apartments and Imo, Jaquith said that the question was not gers~ne to this. disensaion as it was a Board of Ap- peals question. Richard Zemmitti of 3 Sherburne Road asked if the apartr manta were not denied and Mr. Jaquith said that no action had been taken on the matter. Paul Riffin of 6 Field Road asked it' they were real chimneys. Mr. Neiley said that they are real and for f3xeplaces in some of the apartments and also they feel the chimneys give interest to the akylin®. Robert Prescott of 2 Forest Street asked if the blank wall is necessary. Mr. Neiley said that it is not necessary but that they ale like it. Fie said that he feels a strong corner is necessary because of glass windows on the first floor. Fie said that the brick is laid in soldier courses so will have variesty. Mr. Giddings said that, if the Visitors Center is so obviously fake, a larger one could be built like it. He asked the architect why the Visitors Center and also the 19 Muzzey Street building are so objectionable and why they cannot be duplicated. Mr. Jaquith said that this is a differ ant building. ~ • HI9TORTC DISTRTC75 COI~tLSSION r Page 5 September 21, 1971 Hr. Campbell asked about the recessed windows and xhy they Mould like to let light in. Hs said that h® does not underatard the question of lets ting light and air in and added that he works in the Prudential Building where th®y hav® lights on all day long. Mr. Neiley said t}aat in resider- teals building.. there is a difference as those living in totally air condi- tioned buildings wish they could open windows. Mr. Jaquith said that he had Yome questions on the d®tails of the buildw ing. He asked what the dimensions of the first floor metal window frames would be. Mr. Neiley:aaid that they world be very narrow » 1 1/2 ~ 1 3/4". Mr. Jaquith asked if the same was true on the second and third floor3. Mr. Neiley said yes that they xere quite thin. Mr. Jaquith asked if the copper gutter would be sitting on top of the? xall and Mr. Neiley said that it would pro3ect over. ?Ir. Jaquith asked if there would be a oornice and Mr. Neiley acid that there would not be. lir. Graves asked if there would be a molding. Nr. Neiley said that there would not be and that they would sit the gutter on the stone lintel as the gutter by its size eats as a wood cornice would. Nr. Jaquith asked if the doors on the first floor would be white aluminum anodized and Mr. Neiley said that that was the present intention. I~lr. Jaquith asked if the upright pier would be 16" and Mr. Neiley said the face width ~rould be 12". Itr. Parsons asked if it world be the same width to the roof and Mr. Neiley said that it would be acid also would be staggered 1'' and brick. Mr. Jaquith asked if the piers on the roof would be 18" above the roofline and Mr. Neiley said that they would be. Mr. Jaquith asked if the windows on the third floor xere a smaller size than on the seoond floor and Mr. Neiley said that they were. l~r. Graves asked about the width of the face between the large windows on the first floor and Mr. Nailey said that it would be a 12" face. Mr. Jaquith asked if the windows on the first floor would be 8• x 8'" and Mr. Neiley said that they would be appro~dmately that sire. Mr. Jaquith asked if the height of the window sills from the ground would be i8" and Mr. Neiley said that they would be about 14". Mr. Jaquith asked if the first floor doors remain at a 3' reo®ss and Mr. Neiley said treat they did. Mr. Jaquith .asked about the recess of the apartaeent entrance and Mr. Nei.].ey acid treat it would be 3•. Mr. Jaquith asked if there would be any tinted glass on the first floor and Mr. Neiley said that there might possibly be on the side facing south. Mr. Shaw asked how mach wrap around brick there is at both corners and Mr. Neiley said that it was 12". Mr. Pitt asked if the overall height was 3ust under 45' and Mr. Neiley said that it was. Mr. Jaquith asked if the capping on the criimriey would be briok or concrete and Mr. Neiley said that he was unoertain as they have not detailed it. Mr. Nelson said that he thinks the basic problem is height and asked if it conformed to the zoning bylaws. He said that he thought there was ataro- story limit in the town. Mr. Jaquith said that under the Town Building Code there is a height limit and that the Historic Districts Commission has no cones trol oner limiting the building to tyro stories. _ _ : ~ ~ `i HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMHI33ION Page 6 September 21, 1971 ~ Margaret Mann of 5 Pelham Road asked wF~{y this petition went before the Board of Appeals before it went before the Historic Districts Commission. Mr. Jaquith said that the Commission had had the application ainoe shortly after the fire and that neither board could do anything. until after the June Town Meting. Fie said that the Board of Appeals held their hearing on July 27th and the Historic Districts Commission held their first hearing on July 28th and that the taco boards are passing on different things. Mrs. Orr asked if it is normal procedure to go tq the Board of Appeals first or the Historic Districts Commission first. Mr. Jaquith said that they try to have them come up close together so the taro boards can work together. Mr. Giddings asked hox these plans differ from the orio „al plans. Mr, Neiley said that the Depot Square aide had a section of flat roof and the Commission did not like the open apaoe. This plan ended up with a series of sloping roofs which is mayor change. The other change is the stairwell which was Changed after review with the Department of Public Safety which said that it was necessary to have a third exit. Mr. Cadle asked what. the height and depth of the building would be. Mr. Neiley stated that the overall. height was ,just nr~er 45', the building along Massachusetts Avenue would be approxi~ matsly Imo', approximately 141+' on Mariam Street, approximately 15i+' on Depot Place, and approximately 147+' on Depot Square. Mrs. Robert Prescott of 2 Forest Street asked if the window set backs were 3' and Mr. Neiley said that they were. Mrs. Prescott then said that she thought it would be a filar- ing sight. Norman Seybolt of 100 Burlington Street asked if there would be shops on Mariam Street and Mr. Neiley said that there would be. Mrs. Cadle asked the Commission what la.ndsca.ping will be required and stated that the Commission insisted that they landscape their picket fence. Mr. Cadle said that the building ends on Mariam Street acid it would not be possible to landscape. Mr. Neiley said that the Town is taking steps to landscape in front of the building and, since they have not done the final plans, he could not answer the question and. added that they do not know where the entrances will be. Mr. Cadle asked if the shops on Depot Square are colonial type. Mr. Jaquith then said that the stone bands have some variations and asked if they were fixed or could some change be made. Mr. Neiley said that they studied these and feel they should be as appear on the plena. Mr. Jaquith asked if the all metal windows of modern casement design for the apartments are fixed and Mr. Neiley said that they would stay with this dew sign. Mr. Jaquith asked what the width in the center of the windows is and Mr. Neiley said about 2~" in the center. Mr. Jaquith asked if they would reconsider slate shingles instead of the copper roof and Mr. Neiley said that they want the copper roof. Mr. Jaquith then asked about the wrap around of the two corners and Mr. Neiley said that they prefer to keep each store front bay the same and therefore want the wrap around brink for the upper ~o°ms~ie s~dexa~tc Jaquith asked if they feel they have to come dawn to 14" to the windox sill on the store windows and Mr. Neiley said HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMt+1I8SI0N Page 7 3eptsmber 21, 1971 that they might raise it to 16". Mr. Jaquith said that with the apartment entrance 3o back what would the material3 used bg and Mr. Neiley said that there would be a brink pier in to the 3`. Mr. Jaquith said that the draw- ings are in various forms of completion and he has asked questions so that the Commission would know the exact details and he Stated that there were no plot plans with these drawings. Mr. Neiley said that they could furnish tlse plot plans acid drawings of arty minor changes. M'r. Jaquith then asked for statements (no questions) from persons in favor of the design as it euists or with slight modifications. Leonard Notkin read a letter written by the Design Advisory Commission in support of the proposal and presented the letter to the Commission. Mr. Jaquith said that we have not seen these drawings until tonight acid asked Mr. Notkin how the Design Advisory Commission could some np with this let- ter so quickly. Mr. Notkin answered that h® xas in touch xith the archi- facts today. Robert Vernier of 14 Harbell Street said that he xas 100 for the proposed plans. Paul McKenzie of 13 Maple Street said that some of the residents in his area are in favor of the building. Erik Lund said that he was in favor of the proposed building if this is in keeping xith the Toxn and appropriate. He said that he thinks the scale permitted by the coning by-law prohibits a good colonial building in this location. Richard Michelson of 54 Asbury Street and a Director of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce said that he would like to see the Commission take ac` tion on this proposal and that he personally favors this plan. Mr. Jaquith referred to qualifications in a letter received from the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce earlier and asked if Mr. Michelson favored this building as now proposed and Mr. Michelson said that he did. Mr. Seybolt said that he thinks it is an excellent reproduction of a style that xould fit in well in the area. John Frey of 1133 Massachusetts Avenue said that old buildings should be demolished and new buildings should be fudged on design of today and said that he thinks a fine Sob has been done on these plans. Ruth 3eybolt of Village Artisans said that she thinks this xould be a fine building to operate from. Paul Murphy of 12 Woburn Street said that he highly endorses the proposed building. Mr. Jaquith then asked those opposed to speak. Mrs. James Orr of 1 Oakland Street said that because of the scale, the question of parking, etc., this should not haine been decided by any Town Board during the summer while many people are away and said that she would prefer to see a good modern building. She said that she feels this x111 dominate the Toxn and that the viex from the Battle Green xill be unfortunate and that the Commission should decide how this will fit 3.nto the area. Mr. Jaquith stated that the Commission would have preferred to have no meetings during the summer and that this has been the busiest summer the Commission has had. Mrs. Cadle of 15 Mariam Street said that she seconds Mrs. Orr's commsnts. Mrs. Howard Patterson of 123 Blake Road said that she is opposed to the proposed building. Mar3orie Blanchard of 1310 Massachusetts Avenue said that she is opposed to the proposed building. HISTORIC DISTRICTS C02~SSION Page 8 September 21, 1971 Michael Friedman said that h® works at 9 Mariam Street and that he does not feel that parking should be a problem. Mr. Cadle said that he endorses Mrs. Ores comments and that he objects to the corners. He said that he wished the sid®s could be broken up more interestingly and he added that the Commission should give criteria to go by to those in historic Districts. Irving Goldberg of 4 Hathaway Road said that he does not feel this building is appropriate in this center and he feels that the appropriateness of all buildings proposed for the rest of Lexington Center should be considered. Nancy Haines of 7 Robinson Road said that a lot of the criticism is to the large blan~C; brick walls and the corners that stand out. She said that she feels it looks like the mills in Manchester, New Hampshire. She asked why the corner chimneys were starting at the second floor and Pfr. Neiley said that the Commission has been concerned by the blank end brick walls and that they might study these walls again if people ob3eet to them. P?r. Neiley said that the Kane Gothic brick chimneys are started at the second floor where needed and avoid the first floor where not needed. Mary Lasarus of 22 Woodland Road said that she was against the proposed building as it is a hodgepodge= it is not modern and it is not traditional and that no one is really happy with it. A gentleman from 76 Bertrorell Road asked what people Will think 100 or 200 years from now and Why should we be traditional. Mr. Jaquith said that there had been expressions from time-ta-time to- night of possible changes in the drawings and said that no specific changes had been mentioned tonight. He asked if any modifications or changes are to be considered. Mr. Taylor said that there will be no modifications in these drawings. The hearing was adjourned at 1010 P.M. The meeting was ad3ourned at 1 . , Phi~i.p B. Parsons Secretary