HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-04-23 HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMlI.SSIOId
A meeting of the Hiatorio Diatriots Commission ass held on Wednesday,
April 23, 1975. ~ ~ Ssleotmen's ldseting Room, Town Office Building, Lex-
ington. Present were Commiasionera Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman; t3eorgis H,
Williams, 3eoretary; Thomas J. Holzbog; Donald J. Shaw; S. Lawrence Whipple;
and Associate Commissioner Sarah P. Harkness.
An ad~onrned hearing on the application of Consumer Halos Storey for a
Certificate with respect to exterior architectural changes for the store
front at 1719-1721 Maaasohuaetts Av®nue ass held at Sa00 P.H. l~lrs. Harkness
was appointed to serve for Commissioner Shax. Mr. Teolis submitted seals
drawings of the proposed store front and samples of Belgrano material to be
used for the base of the store front. He stated that the present material
is marble and that it is in poor condition and that they are proposing a dark
material. with blue in it to replace the marble. 3/8" think, clear, plate
glees panels will be installed above this material. Abave the glees panels
is a cement strip and. above that is a transom which they want to restore. A
stucco strip is above the transom. Mrs. Harkness asked it they wanted an
awning. Mr. Teolis said that they xould have to replace the caning frame as
well as the awning. if they want orie. He said that the glass panels would be
in three sections and sealed together. The blank anodised aluminum double
door would be recessed and a concrete aaik eloping up to the doorway would
be installed. There was a discussion of using brink instead of concrete for
the walkway and the Commission aembers all pref®rred a brink walk. Mr. Tsolia
said that they plan to ezterd the rear out 24' to meat the rear of the other
stores and this would be of Girder block with a brick veneer. There xould. be
no aindowa but there would bs a door. In answer to a question Mr. Teolis said
that the condensing unit of the air conditioning syateat will be on the root.
Mr. Jaquith said that the Commission needs to know exactly xhere this unit
will tee located and the exact wise of the unit. The hearing was ad~ourr~ed at
9s00 P.M. 1Kr. Shaw resnwed his asst.
Three hearings are scheduled for May 21st: exterior changes in the rear
vt the store at 179-1721 Maasaahuastta Avenue, sign for the C.H. Fabrics
store on Waltham Street, and sign for Mary Washburn at 1620 Msssaohuaetta
Avemte. Hrs. Washburn said that she was asking for a free standing sign as
her antique store is in the rear of the building on the second floor. Ruth
liorey, member of the Board of Appeals, said that this building might possibly
need a directory sign as well as at least four other signs.
An ad3ourned hearing ass held at 9:10 P.M. on the application of Carol
Johansen and Evelyn O'Leary for a Certificate with respect to the erection
and display of signs for the building at 1620 Masaaohusetta Avenue, which is
within the Battle tire.n District. Mr. Jaquith read the legal notice and. acid
that an application had been received about the middle of March. The appli-
canta aubanitted three scale drawings of the proposed signs and stated that
they propose to bang the larger sign in front of the windows and the smaller
sign to the right of the larger sign. 1~. Jaquith stated that the signs wars
lade before the application was anbadtted and that they had been made to hang
on the railing with the larger one above and the smaller orie attached to it.
Mr. Jaquith said that the Commission had suggested that they try hanging the
signs from the ~reh lintels when an informal meeting was held regarding this
application. He stated that the Building Inspector has to decide if these
are to be considered two signs and whether, it hung in this manner, they are
attached to the building. If the Building Ir~apeetor decides that these are
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMlff35ION -page 2 April 23. 1975
two signs and are hanging signs, then this xould be a Board of Appeals case.
Mr. Hol$bog said that the Commission has to consider the total building or
else we could have a hodgepodge of signs o» the building. W3131am nailer,
representing the oxnera of the property, stated that there world be two
stores or a store and an office on the first floors Washburn Antique Store,
Bnahanan Realty, and o~ other (probably an offioe} on the ssaond floor, Hs
said that he had no ob~eotion to this sign but would ob~eot to five signs of
this ales. Mr. Jaquith said that o» several buildings the landlord had deter-
mined. the policy on signs so that they xould be uniform and suggested that
this be done for this building. Mr, Jaquith stated that, if the Commission
approves this sign and aomsona wants one of the same sire for the other first
floor store or offioe, then the Comni.asion would have to approve that sign.
Mr, Dailey asked the Commission if they xould like a directory sign similar to
the one at the Lexington Mews or what they xould like. Mr. Jaquith said that
he Pelt a directory sign World be most preferable. Mr. Whipple suggested that
the address number "1620" be put on the building in a prominent loesation as
identification. Mr. Ho2$bog suggested a double-faded directory sign with ver-
tical signs off the building. Mr. Jaquith said that a directory sign world
probably have to go on the lain. Mr. Dailey suggested possibly having two
signs for the first floor and addable-Faced directory sign with three parole
for the upstairs stores or offices. The hearing was adjourned at 10010 P.M.
Mr, Jaquith stated that he had xrittern the Palmate regarding oompletion
of the painting of their house at i~$ Massachusetts Avenue and had sahedvled
a meeting with them for 9:00 P. M. on May ?th to discuss this matter.
Mr. Shaw reported that he had met with Dr, Ma»ickas regarding the fenc-
ing at $O5 Massachusetts Avenue. Hs said that he felt the most ob3eationable
part of the fencing was that running up the walk to the door and he had sug-
gested that this be out off to the first crossbar and dropped to ground level.
Mr. Whipple asked if the fencing had been approved and Mr. Jaquith said that
it had not. Mr. Whipple said that the Commission aonld tall him, to take it
down,
Regarding the application from Brigham's for a new sign, Mr. Shax said
that he world vote to disapprove it as it is not compatible with other signs
on that building.
Mr. Jaquith read s letter from Wilson Farms, Ire. regarding removal of
the porch on the dwelling at 61$ Massachusetts Avenue as it was in very poor
condition. Mr. Shax said that he feels the Commission should request an ap-
plication for a hearing for a Permit for Demolition of this porch ao that
there world be a reoord on file of this demolition,
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED to approve payment of the
Maroh 19?5 bill from Barbara Gilson, Clerk, for $82.40 ( stage and stamps -
$t4.40o hearings - $31,50= and clerical services - $46,,50
Mr, Jaquith read a letter regneating permission to erect temporary signs
directing tourists to Church parking lots and, following br3.ef disausaion, it
was deoided that this request will be approved.
Mr. Jaquith stated that he had received a request Eros the Board of
Selectman for suggestions of people to serve on the new Hiatoriaal Commission
and a discussion of name followed,
I
HI,ST~IC DISTRICTS C014lISSION -page 3 April 23, 1975
Mr. Shaw mentioned that a sign had been ersoted on the J. F. Hsnnedy
School property ooncsrning the use of organio f®rtilisera and that he f®1t
that they should have to apply for erection of thla sign.
lbs. Harkness was appointed to serve for Commissioner Williams who
con3.d not serve on the follaoting hearing. An adjourned hearing ma held on
the application of the Lexington Historical Soaisty with respect to amerrling
Certificate of Appropriateness No. q4 C-45 issued November 24, 2994 for the
erection of a zing addition to the Hanooak-Clarke House at 36 Hanaoak Street,
whioh 1s within the Hancock-Clarks Matriot. Mr. Jaquith read the legal no-
tice and stated that the hearing had been adjourned from April 2nd to April
23rd for laok of s quorum. He stated that the Society xished to amerxi the
original Certificate as folloxst 1) use of fire-proofed xood shingles in
lieu of asphalt shingles; 2) substitute double hung windoxs for two diamond
paned wirdowa; and 3) eliminate false barn door. Drawings were submitted.
Mr. Shaw said that the plans look alright to him and that hs would approve
them. Mr. Jaquith said that he feels these changes are good. Ih•. Holzbog
said that there is nothing that the Commission oan do now except approve the
changes. Imo. Jaquith acid that the problem goes back to the orginal draxinge
which were not as complete as they should have been. It was stated that a
sample of the brick for the wallnrays had not been submitted as yet. It xas
maned, ssao:ded, and VOTED to issue a Certificate of Apprapriatenesa to the
Lexington Historical Society with respect to amending Certificate of Apps-
priateneas No. 'j4 C-45 issued November 20, 19~+ for the erection of a zing
addition to the Harnsook-Clarke House at 36 Hancock Street, which is within
the Hancock-Clarke District. Participating in this decision xere Commis-
sioners Wilbur M. Jaquith, Thomas J. Holzbog, Donald d. Shaw; Associate Com-
missioner Sarah P. Harkness; and Commissioner 3. Laxrence Whipple xho ab-
stained from voting. 14rs. Williams resumed her seat.
Since no one was present to represent the application of Design Con-
sultants for a Certificate xith respect to the creation and display of a
sign at 11 1Kazzey Street, it was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED to
der?y this application without prejndiae if an extension rrere not received
prior to April 25th.
Then follared a discussion on the proposed memorial on the Battle Green.
l~r. Hol$bog said that he tends to think that nothing should be erected as too
mush is being erected on the Green. I+Irs. Harkness said that she felt the
Green could get too cluttered. Mr. Jaquith said that this is an important
deoision for the Commission and that, if it is done, the Commission moat see
that it is done properly. Hs stated that the Commission has no control over
digging on the Green but that it could stop the removal of existing monuments.
He said that the Bicentennial Committee could put in stones xithottt cementing
them without approval from the Commission.
The meeting xas adjourned at 12e15 A.M.
tw ~~//G~~.S'
or H. Williams
3ecretar3*