HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-01-16 HI9TCfftIC DL9TRICT3 COM~QSSION
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A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Thursday,
Jam~ary 16, 1975. at 8a00 P.M. in Room (315, Town Office. Bui7.ding. Lexington.
Present were Commiasionera Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman; fievrgia H. Williams,
Secretary; Thomas J. Holsbogi Donald J. Shaw; and S. Lawrence Whipple.
Mr. Hol$bog said that he had looked at the baked white enamel oc+mbina-
tion windawa on the Fire Station and said he Peale that they are rather con-
apicnous with the cream Dolor trim. He said that he feels the Commission
should suggest to The Lexington Center Realty Trust that they install plain
aluminum windows on the buildings at 1752 and 1762 Maasachnaetta Avenue and
allow the aluminum windvars to pit fora year or two and then paint to match
the trim.
Mr. Holabog moved that the Commission go into Bkecntive Session, sec-
onded by Mr. Shaw, and unanimously YOTSU.
The Commission members then discussed the Forg case. It was stated
that there were five possibilities in addition to disapproving the applica-
tions againa vinyl siding with vinyl blinds, vir~pl siding with wood blinds,
vinyl siding with no aornerboards, vinyl siding with wood cornerboards, or
vinyl aiding with alami.num aornerboards. ~
The question is whether or not the Commission considers the five pos~i-
bilities listed above appropriate.
Mr. Holsbog said that he feels there should be no aompromiae and that
the entire dwellings should be painted. He said that the Forge should at-
tempt to insulate t!u! houses and should wedge the clapboards.
Mr. Jaquith said that he cannot see arty area for compromise sxaept for
possibly allowing them to install vinyl aiding on the rear xhich is visible
from Bsli'ry Hill which is a pablio way. Mrs. Williams said that she feels
it would weaken the Commission's oase to show vi.riyl aiding on the tsar of
the dwellings.
Mr. Shaw said that he feels the location of the two houses is too arit-
iaal to allow any more mixing of materials than we already have in that area,
particularly the lntroduation of a modern material such as vinyl.
Mr. Holsbog said that he feels this modern ffiterial in unproven.
Mr. Shaw said that he feels that, although an effort was made by the
petitioner to tffeat a compromise by amending the petition by the use of
wood blirxia, building out and leaving uncovered the cornerboarda, it actual-
ly in effect reduaea saving of money on future paint fobs. Thus, if the
applicant thought arry hardship existed now, this ccanpromiae reduces that
finanoisl hardship.
HIST~tIC DISTRICTS CO~IISSION -page 2 January 16, 19?5
Mr. 9hax said, p~ own aonaeienoe says to acs that I can't be trw to ~
interpretation of what tip Aet charges aie to do; that is to keep these areas
covered by our Aat in such a character as to say to our residents and parti-
cularly our visitors 'Here is Lexington xhieh we are trying to present to
you preserved and protested in a setting xhich xa hope xill enhance our cul-
ture, contribute to your en3oyaient, and barmrfit the educational process by
which xe all grox'."
Mrs. Williams said that she Feels the same xay that she did and xondera
if arty usefulness would be seared in letting them have aiding on the body of
the houses. She said that aha feels strongly that the trim should not be
covered. She said that it is very important beaavse of the location that
they not combine materials.
Mr. Whipple said that we knew that the Common is historically unique.
He said that he xondera if we can 3nstify this thinking to the houses.
Mr. Jaquith said that reasoning for the Aot for the Battle Green Dis-
trict was for protecting the area around the Common. It was put to Town
Meeting that this location is unique and each building located around the
Common was unique.
Mr. Whipple said that he does not rant to compromise. He said that he
xould like to come to soma agreement with them but cannot see compromising.
Mr. Jaquith said that Mr. Stevens said that the details of architec-
tural features such as aornerboards, trim, etc. in another material xonld
create an architectural feature inappropriate for this location.
Mr. Holzbog said that details, profiles, reveals, and reliefs are im-
portant. Cornerboards out beyond alapboarda are a relief. Reveal 1s where
pane changes direction. Accents give strong d®lineation. He said that
ar~?one who looks at an authentic old building Feels aubeonaaiovaly that this
is right, and that ire all have a subconaoious response to authenticity. Pro-
file is consistency. By superimposing vinyl on xood, xe are violating inte-
grity of system detailed out of necessity. He said that the charm and pres-
encse of these houses is xorthy of preservation as is.
Mr. Whipple said that every building 'is~ an entity onto itself.
Mr. Jaquith said that he gathered that all still feel that vi.t~l is in-
appropriate and all said that they did feel that viz?yl is inappropriate for
these two houses.
'iS{
Mr. Jaquith said that the Commission has different standards in differ-
ent locations.
HI9TOdt2C DI3TRICTB C~fl~93I01(-page 3 January 16, 195
Mr. Holabog said that he t~is that they have not (ally investigated
ar~r possible hardship to them. He said that he does not see anything that
is a hardship.
Mr. Jaquith said that no proof has been presented that there is a hard-
ship in making paint stick to the buildings.
Mr. Whipple said that he feels that inferior painters painting the
houses is the prime reason for the paint not adhering to the houses.
Mr. Jaquith said that all seem to agree that there is no hardship in-
vOlved in this Case.
Mr. Jaquith then suggested that all Commissioners and Asaooiate Com-
miasioners get together and tour the four hiatorio districts. It was de-
Cided to meet at 9s3o A.M. on January 26th (February 2nd i.f snow) in Depot
Square for this tour.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.K.
L-LL«_ r
(ieo H. Williams
Secretary