705 Main Street Storefronts (BDDW-26-27)
At a glance
- What: Building Demolition Delay Waiver BDDW-26-27 for 705 Main Street (built 1914; MACRIS listed; formerly The Charlton), petitioned by architect Jeremiah Gallant for New Era Property, LLC, to alter one storefront and install a new door.
- Where it stands: ongoing. Continued 7-0 (as captioned) on 2026-09-17 to October 1, 2026.
- Next: October 1 hearing; extended constructive deadline October 16, 2026.
The proposal
- Alter one storefront (and install a new door) for a restaurant tenant expanding into a long-vacant former appliance store.
- The owner (captioned "Saw Sabar"; name uncertain) said it was his first building, he has owned it about ten years, and tenants did the work.
Commission concerns
- The building has four storefronts (703 to 7-Eleven side and 705).
- The Commission said all of them had been altered without building permits or Commission review.
- Recessed entries were removed (enclosed into interior space), doors replaced, and openings boarded over.
- The stone and masonry (including the carved "Charlton" sign) were painted, possibly with latex.
Status and next steps
- Continued 7-0 (as captioned) on 2026-09-17 to October 1, 2026 with an extended constructive deadline of October 16, 2026.
- Commissioners signalled they would not approve eliminating the recess at the unit in question.
- Possible daily fines were discussed (about $300 a day for up to one year, roughly $109,000).
- Interior fit-out can proceed separately once other departments approve the permit.
Discussion time
About 29 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-09-17 - Historical Commission | 29 |
Log
- 2026-10-01 - Historical Commission — Revised plan: recessed entries recreated on the two left storefronts, stone veneer replaced with brick, gray paint above the awnings and around the main entrance to be removed; demolition-delay waiver approved with all five voting commissioners in favor.
- 2026-09-17 - Historical Commission — Heated discussion of unpermitted storefront changes and painted stone; members want the recess rebuilt (or an inoperable door preserving its appearance), a site visit within two weeks and photos of remnants; Community Preservation Act reimbursement suggested; continued to October 1 with October 16 deadline.