49 William Street (Torvella Cedar LLC)
At a glance
- What: Certificate of Appropriateness COA-26-16 for a new building at 49 William Street.
- Where it stands: ongoing. Continued 5-0 on 2026-07-23 to the October 15 meeting.
- Next: October 15 meeting; extended constructive deadline 2026-10-30.
The proposal
- Attorney Donald O'Neil for Torvella Cedar LLC and Rafael Hernandez of Acropolis Design presented a complete redesign in the Second Empire style.
- Features: central entrance, raised roof lines, smaller dormers, two-over-two windows, porch, cement board siding.
Commissioners' feedback
- They liked the direction.
- They wanted the mansard reshaped and the dormers more inset.
- They wanted the foundation-level windows screened with landscaping.
- Site plan review (and possibly Planning Board and Zoning Board action) is still needed. Michelle H. Johnstone told the applicant no design vote was required to proceed; electrical and transformer enclosures and fence specs are to be shown at the next hearing.
- Designer Raphael Hernandez offered to narrow the lowest roof overhang to about a foot and keep the pitch.
Status and next steps
- Continued 5-0 on 2026-07-23 to the October 15 meeting with an extended constructive deadline of 2026-10-30.
Discussion time
About 28 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-23 - Historical Commission | 28 |
Log
- 2026-07-23 - Historical Commission - Redesign reviewed; commissioners wanted the mansard flared out, dormers more inset and the foundation windows screened with landscaping; no design vote needed to proceed to other boards; hearing left open and continued 5-0 to Oct 15.