1 Westminster Street Garage Roof

At a glance

What: Building Demolition Delay Waiver BDDW-26-17 for 1 Westminster Street (ca. 1924, Grant Square Historic District per the agenda). Brian Major wants to replace his garage's broken slate roof with asphalt shingles.
Where it stands: resolved. On 2026-09-17 the Historical Commission granted a conditional waiver of the demolition delay.
Next: administrative review of the salvaged slate during the work.

Major wants asphalt shingles to match the house, citing animal and weather damage.
Commissioners asked for quotes from more slate roofers.
They suggested reusing slate from non-street slopes or keeping slate only on street-facing slopes.
Ceccacci and Ostrow argued for slate and warned of precedent.

Conditional waiver granted 2026-09-17: slate retained on the front and, if enough is salvageable, right slopes.
Written decision to follow.

Continued repeatedly (07-23 to 08-20; 08-20 to 09-03; 09-03 to 09-17), then resolved on 2026-09-17.
Remaining step: administrative review of the salvaged slate during the work.

About 50 minutes across 4 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

2026-09-17 - Historical Commission - Brian Major compared quotes (about $4,800 full asphalt; $7,300 half slate/half asphalt; $11,250 repair; $18,970 asphalt or $32,850 slate from a pricier firm) and reluctantly accepted the compromise. Waiver granted (roll call captioned as unanimous) requiring salvaged slate on at least the Westminster-facing slope, preferably the right-hand slope too (asphalt there only after administrative review by Michelle H. Johnstone, who asked for a call midway through stripping); other slopes may be asphalt. Written decision due within 14 days; no permit until then.
2026-09-03 - Historical Commission - Taken first with no discussion in the captions; continued 7-0 to Sept 17; constructive grant deadline extended to Oct 2.
2026-08-20 - Historical Commission - Taken first with no presentation; continued 7-0 by roll call to Sept 3; deadline Sept 18 (petitioner shown as Luis Castro o/b/o Brian Major).
2026-07-23 - Historical Commission - Presented by Major remotely (raccoon and rain holes, failed zinc on the ribs); commissioners wanted more quotes and suggested slate on the two street-visible slopes with asphalt elsewhere; he may cover the hole meanwhile; public comment left open; continued 5-0 to Aug 20 (deadline Sept 4).