2026-09-03 - Historical Commission

0:02Call to order. Good evening and welcome

0:04to the Thursday, September 3rd, 2026

0:08meeting of the city of the Worcester

0:10Historical Commission. My name is

0:12Erikica Helnarski and I will chair

0:14tonight's meeting. Before we begin, I

0:16have a few brief announcements

0:17concerning how our meeting will proceed

0:19this evening. Tonight's meeting is a

0:21hybrid format, which means that

0:23attendees may participate in person here

0:24at 25 me Street or remotely. You may log

0:28in via computer by going to

0:29wistermass.zoomv.comj1604873519

0:38and entering access code 160-487-3519

0:43in the Zoom application or by calling in

0:45at 1669-254-5252

0:48and entering access code 160-487-3519

0:53to manage your remote participation

0:55during our hybrid meetings. And to

0:57prevent disruptions, all participants

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1:06on an item on our agenda, we ask that

1:08you use the raise hand feature in Zoom

1:10during the discussion of that item. If

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1:18at a time and give them permission to

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1:21to unmute yourself by pressing star six.

1:24This is a public meeting, which means

1:25that it is being recorded and that

1:27minutes will be taken and published at a

1:28later date. To help with this process,

1:31we ask that all speakers participating

1:32in person use a microphone and to please

1:34clearly identify yourselves each time

1:36you speak. The first time you speak,

1:38please state your city or town of

1:39residents for the record. To help

1:42maintain an orderly meeting, please

1:44address all comments and questions

1:45through the chair rather than directly

1:46to any of the other speakers or

1:48applicants. If you are here for an item

1:50that will be postponed or continued,

1:52please note that no additional notice

1:53will be sent to you before the next

1:55meeting. You're encouraged to call the

1:57planning department the day prior to our

1:58next meeting to confirm if that item

2:00will be heard or postponed that evening.

2:02Once an item is called, there will be a

2:04brief brief presentation followed by any

2:06additional comments and clarifications

2:08from members of the city staff. Then an

2:10opportunity for anyone from the public

2:12to speak on that item before we proceed

2:14to board discussion and action. Please

2:16also note that all approval votes will

2:18be by roll call which will be

2:19administered when the time comes. I will

2:21now take roll call of commissioners and

2:23city staff present this evening.

2:25Commissioner Bernett

2:27>> here.

2:28>> Commissioner Gutierrez Leavote

2:30>> here.

2:31>> Commissioner Forester

2:32>> here.

2:32>> Commissioner Baker

2:33>> here.

2:34>> Commissioner Andre

2:35>> here. Commissioner Santos

2:37>> here.

2:38>> Chair Hunarski here. City staff Steven

2:41Kerry

2:42>> here. and Amelia Clark here.

2:46>> Thank you. Our first item is

2:51Westminster Street, one Westminster

2:53Street, and we are going to be

2:55continuing that. So, can I please have a

2:57vote to continue?

2:58>> I shall make a motion to continue this

3:00item to the September 17th historical

3:02commission meeting with a constructive

3:04grant deadline of October 2nd, 2026.

3:09>> Second.

3:12And on that motion, Commissioner

3:14Bernett,

3:15>> yes.

3:15>> Commissioner Gutierrez Leavod,

3:17>> yes.

3:18>> Commissioner Forester,

3:19>> yes.

3:20>> Commissioner Baker,

3:21>> yes.

3:22>> Commissioner Andre,

3:23>> yes.

3:24>> Commissioner Santos Rustbo,

3:25>> yes.

3:26>> And Chair Harkski,

3:27>> yes.

3:31>> Um, item two is 65 Cedar Street. Um, I

3:34believe the applicant is online. could

3:36you please just introduce yourself um

3:38and give us a brief uh rundown of the

3:41project?

3:44>> Hi, my name is Joseph Sheen from Raymond

3:46James Restoration on 100 North Street in

3:49Worcester. The project is to repair a

3:53valley that had been leaking and um we

3:56apologize if we did not make our um

4:00notification. Uh my understanding is

4:03that it was a react an emergency

4:06reaction and that um if we have if if

4:10there's any slate that we cannot reuse,

4:13we will match the slate that's there and

4:17uh the valley will also be uh handled in

4:20a manner to match what was there.

4:24And am I correct in that this work has

4:27been done? Is it on the front or the

4:29side or the back of the the home?

4:33>> Uh I think it's on the front.

4:35>> Right on the front.

4:36>> Just the picture. Yeah. Okay. I see a

4:38little bubble there.

4:39>> Yeah. See there's the chart.

4:40>> So if the slate if you can't reuse some

4:43of the slate that you already have for

4:45the repairs, you're going to match it

4:46with um inind item. Correct.

4:50>> That's correct. and um you know when you

4:54drive by and and if you feel that it

4:57needs to be a better match, we would

4:59just go back and take care of it. But we

5:02think we will match it.

5:04>> Okay. Are there any um comments from the

5:07commission on this project at all?

5:12>> All right. So, with no further comments,

5:15um can I have a motion for a certificate

5:17of non-applicability?

5:18>> Sure. I'll make a motion for certificate

5:20of nonapplicability.

5:23The commission finds that the partially

5:24retroactive changes at 65 Cedar Street

5:27consisting of replacions replacing

5:30sections of red slate roof and copper

5:33valleys in kind is not under the

5:36jurisdiction of the commission and

5:37therefore approves a certificate of

5:40nonapplicability.

5:42>> Second.

5:44>> And on that motion

5:45>> and I turned that off. Um and on that

5:47motion, Commissioner Bernett,

5:49>> yes.

5:50>> Commissioner Gutierrez Leavote,

5:52>> yes.

5:52>> Commissioner Forester,

5:54>> yes.

5:54>> Commissioner Baker,

5:55>> yes.

5:56>> Commissioner Andre,

5:57>> yes.

5:57>> Commission Commissioner Santos Dustivo,

6:00>> yes.

6:00>> And Chair Holarski,

6:02>> yes.

6:03>> So, you are all set with that.

6:07>> Have any other applicants um come

6:09online?

6:11>> The applicant for Shbury Street is here.

6:13Yep. Uh, no one else I do see another

6:15phone number that logged in, so that

6:17might be for items four or five. Um,

6:20>> okay.

6:20>> So,

6:20>> so this is for

6:23>> 60 Shbury Street.

6:25>> Yes.

6:25>> Okay, perfect.

6:27>> Make sure your thing is on. Yep, it's

6:29on.

6:29>> Good evening. My name is Robert Brona

6:30from Brandon Realy Group, J&Mista Family

6:32Limited Partnership, the owner of this

6:34building. Um, this is a combined project

6:38with 72 Shrewsbury Street where Valtero

6:40is. Uh in the front of this building is

6:43Carvin O'Brial.

6:45Upstairs, uh to the right side of that

6:48picture is an office space. It was

6:49Keller Williams in Wormtown's offices.

6:52It's now all acer insurance. Um this

6:56project is going to be those silos are

6:58removed, but the project starts about

7:00where those silos begin and go to the

7:02back. Now, that part of the building is

7:04new. We replaced it. The old building

7:06was crumbling and caving in. We got a

7:09demolition delay waiver and rebuilt it.

7:11Um, what we're proposing to do is

7:14basically repurpose the use, which

7:15requires changing the entrances, exits,

7:17and adding windows. We want to add 10

7:20apartments to this site. Um, where it

7:23was was uh Wormtown's production

7:25facility. Um, so we will be removing the

7:29garage doors, adding

7:32about where that middle silo is, uh, an

7:35entry door, an entryway, and then adding

7:38two rows of windows. And you saw that in

7:40the application, the the rendering in

7:42and the architectural plans. Um, and we

7:45believe that it's kind of in character

7:48with the history of the use of the

7:49building. Um because it's been many

7:52things over the years, including while

7:54we've we've owned it during our

7:56stewardship of it. And every time that

7:59changed, even before the historical

8:01regulations were here, windows, doors

8:04constantly were being closed, reopened,

8:07moved, the buildings were connected

8:09under our stewardship. Um and yeah, and

8:13you can see again the windows to the the

8:16right there, that that stuff's all new.

8:18Those two glass entrances, that's

8:20Wormtown's tap room. We came before the

8:22commission to add those before and the

8:25commission agreed with our assessment

8:27that yes, historically the building has

8:30continued to change and to keep it in

8:32use and not deteriorate. That's somewhat

8:36required. And we thought housing would

8:38be a good use because again, we've gone

8:40through a few iterations of

8:42semi-industrial use back there. And we

8:45thought if we once we did apartments it

8:46would stay apartments pretty much

8:47forever after that. Um so that was our

8:50thinking in doing it. And again there's

8:52a great demand for housing in the city.

8:54So uh we felt it was a good project to

8:57do. It'll be two levels uh and 10

9:01apartments.

9:03>> Okay. Yeah.

9:04>> And that's again the what what it's

9:06going to look like. There's the uh

9:08pedestrian door in each of the uh

9:11windows. So there's only going to be one

9:13door.

9:14>> Yes.

9:15>> On the right and that will give access

9:17to all the apartments.

9:18>> Yes. Okay.

9:20>> And that's this isn't um Shoesbury

9:22Street front. This is all the

9:24>> Leo Turway. It faces Leo's restaurant.

9:26And there's a parking lot.

9:28>> Yeah.

9:28>> In the back as you saw from the earlier

9:30photos.

9:31>> And there's a rendering of what we plan

9:34to build too was a drawing. There it is.

9:36Yep. So that

9:36>> So that's what it will end up looking

9:38like.

9:39>> Looks nice. All right.

9:42And we'll need to repoint some of the

9:44brick.

9:45Uh and again, we'll match the windows

9:47that we did on the uh other side of the

9:50building.

9:51>> Yeah.

9:51>> Okay.

9:52>> So, it will look contiguous.

9:56>> Does the commission have any comments or

9:58questions about this project at all?

10:01>> Will you have to be adding any more new

10:03brick? Like, are you bricking in

10:04anything or is it just removing? Okay.

10:08Oh, well, well, where the garage doors

10:10were. We'll put in windows and probably

10:12have to add some brick there. Okay. Do

10:13you think you'll be able to match?

10:14>> But again, that's all brand new brick.

10:16We did it 10 years ago.

10:18>> So, it'll be easy to match if you need

10:19to.

10:20>> Yeah, it'd be very easy to match.

10:21>> Okay.

10:21>> And we could always paint it like we did

10:23the other side of the building if we

10:24needed to.

10:25>> Okay.

10:25>> Which we did on Harrington Corner as

10:27well.

10:28>> Okay.

10:28>> Because it was difficult to match.

10:30>> I think it's I think it's a wonderful

10:32project. Um, this building has seen many

10:35different lives. Um, and it's good to

10:37see it adapt to the need of the the

10:40city. And I think it's a I think it's a

10:42beautiful design. I think it marries

10:44with the the neighborhood well. Um, are

10:48there any other comments from the

10:49commission? So, I'm going to open it up

10:51for public comment.

10:55Is there anybody online for public

10:56comment? Probably not.

11:01>> This is Steve Kerry in the planning

11:02division. I do see uh someone online uh

11:05with a phone number um ending in 9772.

11:09Um if you would like to unmute and make

11:11any comment on this item, you can hit

11:13star six to do so

11:16>> or let us know what item they're

11:18actually here for.

11:18>> Sure.

11:19>> Or if you are here for a different item.

11:22>> I I have no comment on this item.

11:25>> Okay. Okay. Thank you.

11:27>> All right. So, can I have a motion to

11:28close public comment, please?

11:29>> I shall make a motion to close public

11:31comment. Second.

11:33>> And on that motion to close public

11:35comment, Commissioner Bernett,

11:36>> yes.

11:37>> Commissioner Gutierrez Levod,

11:39>> yes.

11:39>> Commissioner Forester,

11:41>> yes.

11:42>> Commissioner Baker,

11:43>> yes.

11:43>> Commissioner Andre,

11:44>> yes.

11:45>> Commissioner Santos Rustbo,

11:47>> yes.

11:47>> And [snorts] Chair Helarski,

11:49>> yes. And we're going to take two

11:51different motions here. Our first motion

11:53is going to be um Actually, no, that's

11:56>> No, just No, just one.

11:58>> It's just for the demolition delay.

12:00>> Okay. I'll make a motion for the the

12:03waiver of the 12-month building

12:05demolition delay.

12:07The commission finds that the proposed

12:09demolition at 60 Shrewsbury Street

12:11consisting of removing and replacing

12:13garage doors would not be detrimental to

12:16the historic or architectural resources

12:18of the city of Worcester.

12:20>> Second.

12:22>> On that motion, Commissioner Bernett,

12:24>> yes.

12:25>> Commissioner Gutierrez Lavote,

12:27>> yes.

12:27>> Commissioner Forester,

12:29>> yes. Commissioner Baker,

12:30>> yes.

12:31>> Commissioner Andre,

12:32>> yes.

12:33>> Commissioner Santos Rustivo,

12:34>> yes.

12:35>> And Chair Helarski,

12:36>> yes.

12:37>> Thank you very much.

12:38>> Thank you so much. Good evening.

12:41>> All right.

12:42>> Now, we are moving on to item four,

12:44which is 30 Newbury Street. Are the

12:46applicants present?

12:48>> You can please come up to the table

12:49here.

12:58Perfect timing, you guys. [laughter]

13:01>> Got lost in this.

13:04>> So, once you're seated, if you could

13:05just both introduce yourselves and and

13:08your town of residents.

13:10>> Make sure the green light is lit up on

13:12the the microphone on the bottom.

13:14>> Okay.

13:15>> My name is Beverly Brown and I live at

13:1830 Newbury Street in Worcester. My name

13:21is Bruce Broadot and I live at 81

13:23Wayside Road in Worcester.

13:25>> Okay.

13:26>> Okay.

13:26>> Would you mind just explaining your

13:28project to us, please?

13:30>> Okay. So, what's going on is that there

13:33u the settling in the rear of the house

13:35on the uh first and second floor porches

13:38on the ribbon and other um parts of that

13:42building is kind of deteriorating over

13:45the time. Um, we're looking to get that

13:47reinforced before there becomes a

13:49problem with the roof and therefore

13:51becoming a much larger problem.

13:54>> Do we have slides that show the um the

13:57the condition of the back porch?

14:00>> There we go. Okay.

14:01>> Okay.

14:02>> The the corner post right there where

14:05you see the leading one that has uh on

14:07the second floor. There's a lot of rot

14:10in there and there's like some spacing

14:12in there. You can see where the decks

14:14are leaning down

14:16>> um because of the settling of that post.

14:19>> It's a very old house and you know back

14:21in the days they had a cold underneath

14:23that house. Oh, sorry. So um with that

14:27we're really hoping to get that repa the

14:29decks replaced the ribbons and

14:31everything replaced out of there because

14:32it's rotting and we want to really

14:34reinforce that so going forward we won't

14:37have that problem any longer. Well, I

14:39mean, just visually looking at the those

14:41those don't look like the original uh

14:45porches in the sense of the railing

14:47height. Um, and you know, it being

14:50heavily altered anyway with the vital

14:52vinyl siding and the vinyl windows. Um,

14:55so obviously with it being a

14:59safety issue and then becoming a

15:01structural issue, um, it definitely

15:04needs to be done. What materials do you

15:07plan on using to replace them?

15:09>> Okay. Um, we have uh well, we were

15:12planning to try to use the TX on the

15:13decks. Um, it would be and I believe

15:16they would be using pressuret treated or

15:19it might be totally reinforced around

15:21the ribbon um for the deck. Um, we

15:24didn't get a detailed um estimate on

15:27that. It was just a general estimate of

15:28that. Um, we did get another estimate

15:30with pressuretreated wood and we felt

15:32that maybe that wasn't the best for

15:35longevity because even pressuret treated

15:38wood after a while deteriorates. So,

15:40>> so you're saying the TX deck, is that

15:42what that's what it's called, right?

15:43>> The TX. It's a composite.

15:46>> Okay.

15:46>> And do you know, not that I mean this is

15:49the rear of the home. You're not even

15:50going to be really able to see it. Um,

15:53were you just planning on doing wood

15:54grain color just just to

15:58>> I'm not really sure. I think that that

16:00they come in a dark brown, like a cocoa

16:03color and maybe even like a grayish

16:05color.

16:06>> So, once we um I would think that it

16:09matches better with the grayish instead

16:10of the brown.

16:11>> If that's what they have, we probably go

16:13with that. And then the railings, they

16:16also said that they would be obviously

16:18replacing the railings and reinforcing

16:20them

16:20>> with that, right? Yeah, the

16:21>> check.

16:23>> I mean, I have no qualms with this

16:25project. Um, especially with the

16:27condition of, you know, not [snorts]

16:29>> it's kind of doesn't really have a lot

16:31of it its historical elements visible

16:34anymore. Um, does the rest of the

16:36commission have any comments on this

16:38project at all?

16:40>> No.

16:41>> All right. So, I'm going to open it up

16:42for public comment then.

16:47here.

16:48>> Uh just the same uh person whose uh

16:50number ends in 9772 is the only other

16:53person I see online. Um if you would

16:55like to comment on this, you can unmute.

16:56Um otherwise, no one else online.

16:59>> Okay. So, can I have a motion to close

17:01public comment?

17:02>> I'll make a motion to close public

17:03comment.

17:04>> Second.

17:05>> And a motion to close public comment.

17:07Commissioner Bernett,

17:08>> yes.

17:09>> Commissioner Gutierrez Levod,

17:10>> yes.

17:11>> Commissioner Forester,

17:13>> yes.

17:13>> Commissioner Baker,

17:14>> yes. Commissioner Andre.

17:16>> Yes.

17:17>> Commissioner Santos Restbo.

17:19>> Yes.

17:19>> And Chair Harkski.

17:21>> Yes. And now I'm going to This is the

17:24two-part motion. Um our first motion is

17:27going to be for a demolition delay

17:29waiver.

17:30>> I'll make a motion for the waiver of the

17:3212 month building demolition delay.

17:36The commission finds that the proposed

17:37demolition at 30 Newbury Street

17:41consisting of replacing two rear porches

17:44would not be detrimental to the

17:46historical or architectural resources of

17:49the city of Worcester.

17:51>> Second.

17:52>> On that motion, Commissioner Bernett,

17:54>> yes.

17:55>> Commissioner Gutierrez Levod,

17:56>> yes.

17:57>> Commissioner Forester,

17:59>> yes.

17:59>> Commissioner Baker,

18:01>> yes.

18:01>> Commissioner Andre,

18:03>> yes. Commissioner Santos or Steivo?

18:05>> Yes.

18:05>> And Chair Hollarski?

18:07>> Yes. And now, may I please have a motion

18:10for a certificate of appropriateness?

18:12>> I shall make a motion for a certificate

18:15of appropriateness.

18:17The commission finds that the changes at

18:1930 Newbury Street consisting of

18:21replacing two rear porches are

18:24appropriate for the Crown Hill Local

18:26Historic District.

18:28>> Second. [clears throat]

18:29>> On that motion, Commissioner Bernett.

18:31>> Yes. Commissioner Commissioner Gutierrez

18:34Lavote.

18:35>> Yes.

18:36>> Commissioner Forester.

18:37>> Yes.

18:38>> Commissioner Baker.

18:39>> Yes.

18:39>> Commissioner Andre.

18:41>> Yes.

18:41>> Commissioner Santos Rusto.

18:43>> Yes.

18:43>> And Chair Helarski.

18:45>> Yes. You're all set. Good luck on your

18:47project.

18:47>> Okay. Thank you.

18:50>> And now we are moving on to item five,

18:53which is 48 Cedar Street.

19:05want to see.

19:06>> Oh, yeah. [laughter]

19:07>> We love to see Yeah,

19:11>> maybe want to see some bricks.

19:13>> Oh, yep.

19:13>> So, if you could just introduce yourself

19:16and let us know your city or town of

19:17residence.

19:19>> I'm Ted Connor and I live in the city of

19:22Worcester

19:23and I came to Worcester to work on this

19:26building in 1983. So, I don't know how

19:28much history you want, but I' I've been

19:31working on restoring this building for a

19:33long time.

19:34>> We love that. [snorts and laughter] So,

19:36could you just explain to us um the

19:38project at hand here?

19:40>> So, yeah, in my application, there's

19:43nine different things. Um and I

19:47basically put everything I can think of

19:49that's on our list. We uh what I the

19:53priority right now is four of them. The

19:56other five I don't even have a date, but

19:58I figured I may as well just put it all

20:00forward. So, the things that we want to

20:04do more imminently are to We have two

20:06chimneys that are in pretty rough shape.

20:09We want to rebuild them. Um,

20:12I wish I could find an old photo so we

20:15know because I think they've both been

20:16rebuilt already once. They look like

20:19they may have been modified. I haven't

20:21been up there yet to see it up close and

20:24personal. Um, but the goal is to either

20:27make it look like it does now or like it

20:30did originally, whichever is, you know,

20:34is possible. Um, the two chimneys, we

20:37have a slate roof,

20:40>> which if you um can you show the slate

20:43roof, Stephen?

20:46Yeah. you see on the left there, it's a

20:48beautiful, you know, variable color

20:52slate, but our contractor said that's

20:54gray slate that's been weathered.

20:57And he found Pennsylvania gray slate

21:00that he said this is going to be the

21:01closest match. And in some cases, like

21:05at the bottom of the bottom photo close

21:07to the valley,

21:09>> it's already been replaced with that

21:11kind of slate and it looks pretty good.

21:12>> Yeah. So, um, so that's the roof just,

21:16you know, and this is an ongoing

21:18repair. Every year we get a few slates

21:21that fall out and we spend a thousand

21:23bucks and fix a few slates and

21:25>> we appreciate you doing that because

21:27some people would just be like, we're

21:28not doing this at all.

21:30>> Well, you know, the choice is I looked

21:31at this years ago. If it's 25 square

21:34roof, I could spend 50 grand for a new

21:38asphalt roof

21:40and in 25 years or 50 years I'd be

21:42replacing it again. So what how what's I

21:45can spend $1,000 a year

21:47>> and it would be the same

21:48>> and keep the slate roof. Exactly.

21:50Without even costing

21:52>> We like that reasoning.

21:54>> And I and I want to preserve the slate.

21:56I mean I'm not going to take take the

21:58slate down. We're just going to keep

21:59fixing it. So, um, so that's the slate

22:04piece.

22:06Uh, we have the foundation in the front

22:09is, um, is granite slabs

22:13that just need a little bit of

22:15repointing. In the rear, it's brick. In

22:17places, the brick is really in bad

22:20shape. It's spald. It's falling out.

22:22It's It's a mess. Luckily, there's two

22:26parallel courses and the inside course

22:28is solid, but the outside course

22:31needs to be rebuilt. And um

22:36my what we're probably going to do is

22:38get a matching new brick to do the

22:41chimneys and reclaim the chimney brick

22:43to do the foundation.

22:44>> Okay.

22:45>> Um if it all turns out to be the same

22:48size. Um,

22:50>> but I I hope I can do that because

22:52otherwise I'll come up with some old

22:54brick for the foundation. We'll keep it

22:55all old down there.

22:57>> Yeah.

22:58>> Um, Michelle advised me to use a type N,

23:03I believe, is the softer mortar.

23:05>> Yeah.

23:06>> And and and I've got a a color thing.

23:10It's either going to be light gray or or

23:12off-white. I need to hold it up and see

23:14which one is closer.

23:16And I feel like those are things like as

23:18as the repairs are happening,

23:21>> she is a a resource to call and she can

23:24probably administratively approve those

23:27if we just approve the generalization of

23:29it.

23:29>> Yes.

23:30>> But as things go on, right, he can refer

23:32to her. Okay. I just wanted to double

23:34check that.

23:35>> I I've had her out already.

23:37>> Yeah, she's great.

23:38>> Advised me and she said we're we're

23:41doing the best we can. So, which we are.

23:44Um,

23:46so yeah, color of mortar, bricks.

23:50Um,

23:53let's see. So that, yeah, that would

23:55just be one section at a time. Some of

23:57it just needs to be repointed. Some of

23:59it needs to be completely rebuilt.

24:02>> Okay. And then the fourth thing attached

24:05to that is that there were two basement

24:08windows in the back that originally were

24:13fulllength windows all the way to the

24:16ground. Like literally the sill on the

24:18ground, which is not good.

24:20>> Um, in one case long before I got there,

24:24it was filled in halfway and they used

24:26concrete to fill in the opening and it's

24:28still too close to the ground.

24:31What I want to do is use replacement

24:34wood sash that match the other four

24:36windows in the front.

24:38Um, and to uh to break up the openings

24:44to get it a little further off the

24:45ground. They're still going to be bigger

24:46than the front ones, but I don't want

24:49the sill right on the ground where it's

24:51just going to rot.

24:53>> So, just to clarify, you are going to

24:55you want to replace

24:57two basement windows. There's nothing

25:00there right now. It's boarded up with

25:01plywood.

25:02>> Okay. Okay.

25:03>> Has been for 45 years. So,

25:05>> you just kind of want to make them new

25:07windows again.

25:08>> Okay.

25:09>> But bricked up prior to be off the

25:11ground.

25:11>> Yeah. I want to take the plywood out. Um

25:14rebuild the I've done this already

25:17before the this was a a thing.

25:20>> Yeah.

25:21>> I mean, I did a lot of work on the

25:22building in 2010 and 11 and we had other

25:26windows. Three of them I either replaced

25:29or restored the sash and in at least one

25:32case, maybe two,

25:35I rebuilt the frame out of pressuret

25:37treated to match the old frames.

25:39>> So, it's all still wood. It all still

25:41looks the same. It's all of the same

25:43style. And they have these uh security

25:48covers. And I'm I'll match that, too.

25:50>> Okay.

25:51>> So, the idea is just to match the back

25:53four to the front, too.

25:55>> Okay.

25:56Yeah. Or the back two to the front four.

25:58I'm sorry.

25:59>> In the same fashion that you did the

26:01other, but just a little raising the

26:03sill up a little bit more.

26:05>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, one of them if I

26:07didn't raise the sill, it's Well, I

26:09mean, it's it's not original. Original

26:11is two feet below. Great.

26:13>> Great. Yeah.

26:13>> And and um

26:16>> if I don't raise it, it's just a mess.

26:18So,

26:19>> okay.

26:20>> Um, and so those are the those are the

26:24current things. You want me to talk

26:25about the other five things?

26:27>> Yeah, just the stuff that is on the

26:29application here. So, you've you've told

26:31us about the chimneys. Well, you we did

26:34discuss that. Um,

26:35>> chimneys,

26:36>> selective replacement of roof. Uh, what

26:39about the rear door?

26:40>> Okay, so rear door. If you go back to

26:42Yes. On the right hand picture, you see

26:44the little bumpout

26:46>> thing there. Um, I'll say a few things

26:49about that. Um,

26:52I don't even know if I put it in the

26:53application, but the the roof is

26:55asphalt.

26:56>> The next slide.

26:57>> It's old. Um, we're going to buy a bunch

26:59of slate when I fix that. I'll probably

27:01put slate on it.

27:02>> Oh, that's great.

27:03>> Isn't that cool?

27:04>> We not used to hearing that.

27:06>> What's that?

27:07>> We're not used to hearing that, so

27:08that's good.

27:09>> No, I mean it because it'll match. Yeah.

27:11And the other shallow roofs are Well,

27:14they're MDR now. They used to be metal.

27:16>> Okay.

27:16>> So, but they're not bad and they're not

27:18visible.

27:19>> Okay.

27:20>> Um the little bumpout thing, um there's

27:25a street facing door. You can't see it,

27:28but it's a wooden

27:32three panel

27:34two over two um

27:35>> on the right

27:36>> door that's 3 feet by seven feet. So,

27:40it's an oversized door. I installed it

27:43in 1983.

27:45It now needs to be fixed again. Um, so

27:49it's not original, but when I did that,

27:52it was as close as I could get to what

27:54looked old.

27:54>> Yeah.

27:55>> And I'm going to do the same thing when

27:56we get to that, which I don't know when

27:59that will be.

27:59>> Okay.

28:00>> But the the door is is actually shot.

28:03The the glass was vandalized. I did

28:06something temporary

28:08uh with plexiglass. Um, the bottom of

28:10the door is rotten, so it needs fixing

28:14at some point. Um,

28:17that's the door.

28:19>> Uh, what about the porch lattice?

28:21>> So, well, there's two places where

28:24you'll see that in the rear. It's that

28:27not original sheet stuff.

28:30>> Uh, which someone replaced since I

28:32worked on it in 1983 because Can we Do

28:36we have a view of the front porch? Maybe

28:40the other bigger

28:43uh you can't see it very well behind on

28:45the left picture

28:47>> behind the vegetation

28:50there's lattice that's diamond pattern.

28:54>> Um right there exactly kind. Yeah.

28:57>> Yeah.

28:58>> Um so that that's not a sheet product.

29:01That was built out of lattice by yours

29:03truly. There's a spot there that's

29:06broken. I think we might have a skunk.

29:09>> Um, and in the rear I did the same

29:12thing, but people keep backing into

29:14that. So, I somebody else came along and

29:17put the sheet stuff in at some point

29:19when I wasn't in the in the loop.

29:22>> Okay.

29:23>> Um,

29:24goal is to and Michelle said the diamond

29:27is probably not original,

29:30>> but it's what I found in 1983.

29:32>> That's for you. Now, do you do you own

29:35this building or do you just

29:38>> um

29:38>> Hold on.

29:41Oh, wait. I didn't Sorry, Vic. I didn't

29:44mean to answer that, but I need to call

29:45you back. [laughter]

29:48>> Thank Thanks. I don't know what I'm

29:51doing. I [laughter] can't see anything.

29:52So, I uh do I own this building? I am

29:58This This building is uh um Do you know

30:01what a hydra is? Anyone know what a

30:04hydra is? Hygi off and six grow. You

30:07You're talking a

30:08>> hydra is a multi-headed monster.

30:11>> Yeah. Okay. I don't know which way we're

30:13going with this, but

30:15>> that's what owns this building.

30:16>> Okay.

30:17>> The building was originally a

30:19partnership of five people including my

30:21father. It's now a partnership of the

30:25two survivors and two trusts.

30:28I am one of the trustees and

30:30beneficiaries of my father's trust. So

30:32my siblings and I together own a quarter

30:35of it.

30:36>> Okay.

30:36>> And I manage it.

30:38>> I was just curious because it was like

30:3983 and then you left and someone else

30:40replaced it. So I'm like, all right, I'm

30:43just trying to figure out the, you know,

30:45who's in charge of the the maintenance

30:47and you know, so now I understand.

30:50>> I did a lot of work in ' 83, a lot of

30:52work in 2010 and all the work ever since

30:56then.

30:57>> Okay. So, but in keep interim, I had

31:01other things going on and they hired

31:03other people, too.

31:04>> Okay.

31:05>> So,

31:06>> hey, I would just like some

31:07clarification on the lattice. You're

31:10what are you going to replace versus

31:12what will you repair

31:15>> on the lattice?

31:17>> I will only repair what needs repairing.

31:20My intent is not to replace anything

31:23that doesn't need replacement. And if I

31:26did replace it,

31:27>> okay,

31:27>> like in the rear, I would be inclined

31:29when I get to that

31:32is um to

31:35replace all of the sheet product with

31:38the diamond pattern.

31:39>> Okay. Sure. Okay.

31:40>> So it looks matches the front.

31:42>> Okay.

31:43>> Uniform.

31:44>> Um you know, I'm I'm aiming to match the

31:47history wherever I can.

31:49>> Right.

31:49>> And that stuff you you get close to it,

31:51you know, it's the cheap modern stuff.

31:53It doesn't match. You can if you see the

31:57the middle post

32:00there um

32:02>> sort of under the back corner. Except

32:04you don't cuz it's not there. People

32:06backed into it and it's gone. It's

32:08hanging there.

32:09>> Wow. when I I got I got to put a new

32:11footing under it, new post, do all that

32:14work, and then there there's going to be

32:16either

32:18a some blocks of granite or ballards or

32:21something because I'm sick of people

32:22backing into it.

32:24>> Now, is this apartment units inside?

32:26>> It's a It's been converted to an office

32:29building. Okay.

32:30>> It's all devoted to mental health, and

32:32there's one speech pathologist

32:34currently.

32:34>> Okay.

32:35>> Yeah. So, it's a it's a commercial

32:37office building, but it's it's all I've

32:41restored things on the inside, too.

32:43>> Love it.

32:44>> It's pretty old.

32:45>> Okay. So, I've got um more

32:47clarification, please, for sure. The

32:49entry stair, are you going to replace

32:52given all that? Given that box right

32:54there, what will you replace versus what

32:57will you repair?

32:58>> So,

32:59>> stairs, porch, door, and you already

33:02mentioned that you're going to replace

33:03the roof with

33:06with shingle.

33:06>> When the roof when it comes to the roof,

33:09>> I'll use slate.

33:10>> Yeah.

33:11>> Yeah. If we'll have some slate and we'll

33:12use slate. Why not? It's easy. It's a

33:14simple little

33:16>> square.

33:17>> Okay. The stairs

33:18>> cost a fortune. But

33:20>> the the stairs, it's it's a pre-cast

33:23concrete thing.

33:24>> Okay.

33:25>> Okay. currently the same thing we used

33:27to have in the front which failed and we

33:32broke it up and I replaced it with a

33:34wooden stair and and a we extended the

33:37row iron railings because we needed to

33:40add a step.

33:41>> Oh yeah.

33:42>> So it it looks old again. I don't know

33:44if it's original, but it looks it's

33:47congruent with the old house.

33:50>> If this thing doesn't break, I'm not

33:52touching it. But if it if it starts to

33:54fall apart, if the concrete fails, okay?

33:57>> Meaning like a hole develops in one of

33:59the steps, I'm going to break it up and

34:02replace it with something that looks

34:04old.

34:04>> Okay.

34:05>> Probably wood again and an iron railing.

34:09>> So, this isn't like you said, you just

34:11put everything on there that you could

34:12think of on this laundry list, but

34:14that's not necessarily something that

34:15you're going to do, but if it comes up,

34:18you want to have the okay to be able to

34:20go ahead and do it.

34:21>> Yeah. Yeah. I tried to think I just

34:22wanted to clarify

34:23>> anything we ever might do and do it all

34:26at once if I could.

34:28>> Okay,

34:29>> this particular thing, the stairs, those

34:32are probably going to outlive me.

34:34>> Okay,

34:34>> so

34:35>> but it's just on there just in case.

34:37>> It's on there, but it's probably going

34:38to out probably not going to get to

34:40that. Um,

34:42>> the repairing of the shutters.

34:44>> So, let me I just did I

34:48>> Yeah, that covers the entire rear. There

34:50were a few things there.

34:51>> The shutters,

34:53>> again, I did a ton of work on them in '

34:5583, again in 2011.

34:59>> All they're going to need is occasional

35:02repair. The little wooden pivots that

35:04the slats turn on, rot out, and then you

35:07have a slat that falls out.

35:09>> Okay.

35:10>> And the last time I did it, I replaced,

35:13you know, dozens of those. Um, I did

35:18what I could to, you know, keep the

35:21water out and seal them up and then we

35:23got they got painted. So, again, it

35:26would be repair, not replacement.

35:28>> Okay.

35:29>> Okay. Got that.

35:30>> All I'm ever going to do is sort of do

35:33the surgery and make it the way it was.

35:35>> Understood. Yep.

35:37>> And that would be the same with the

35:39damaged siding and trim. Uh, never

35:43chimneys, porch, lattice, shutters,

35:46damaged siding, trim.

35:49>> Um,

35:53that's the only other thing. Yeah. Yeah,

35:55that that's kind of a casual. When we go

35:58to paint, we're going to have broken

35:59claps. I'll replace them with matching

36:02claps.

36:04the uh gingerbread.

36:07I've also worked extensively to restore

36:10the gingerbread and if it ever breaks

36:12again, I'm going to do it again. Um

36:14that's I mean, if you get a a closeup of

36:17the of the gingerbread,

36:20I'm not sure if I provided that, but I'm

36:23really proud of it.

36:24>> You should be. [laughter]

36:26>> Michelle's seen it anyway. Yeah, we

36:28we're we are not used to having someone

36:32be so willing to repair things and Yeah,

36:37we're Yeah, she has some great pictures

36:39of the detail.

36:40>> Yeah.

36:41>> Oh, I sent those to Michelle.

36:42>> Yeah.

36:42>> No, I took these last night.

36:44>> She lives in the Yeah, she

36:45>> I live around the corner. So, [laughter]

36:47>> up in the up in the corners of that side

36:50gable, there's a very pretty

36:53>> Yeah.

36:53>> curly gingerbread

36:55>> over your shoulder.

36:57when when I um get Michelle to show you

37:00the pictures of the work I did on it

37:02because I cut pieces to match what

37:05wasn't there and glued it in and I also

37:09reinforced the back of it so it's less

37:11likely to break again because wood

37:14wasn't intended to be cut. So the is a

37:18little piece of grain and you know it

37:20just it's designed to break.

37:22>> Okay. So if you did it with today's

37:24wood, it would last a few years.

37:26>> Okay.

37:28>> So, but it's Yeah, it it's I'll

37:33And now if that happens when I'm 75, it

37:36might not be me doing it, but if I have

37:38any control over it, it it it gets

37:42restored, not replaced or torn out.

37:45>> Okay.

37:46>> So,

37:46>> that's great.

37:47>> Okay. Okay, I think we got

37:49>> Do we have any questions for

37:50clarifications on anything or any

37:52comments from the commission?

37:56>> No.

37:57>> All right. So, I will open it up for

37:59public comment.

38:03>> This is Steve Kerry in the planning

38:04division. Um, same the person with the

38:07phone number 9772.

38:09Um, if you would like to comment on

38:10this, you can unmute yourself.

38:16>> No. Okay.

38:16>> No. So, can I have a motion to close

38:18public comment, please?

38:19>> I shall make a motion to close public

38:21comment.

38:22>> Second.

38:23>> And on the motion to close public

38:25comment, Commissioner Bernett,

38:26>> yes.

38:27>> Commissioner Gutierrez Levod,

38:28>> yes.

38:29>> Commissioner Forester,

38:31>> yes.

38:32>> Commissioner Baker,

38:33>> yes.

38:33>> Commissioner Andre,

38:34>> yes.

38:35>> Commissioner Santos Restivo,

38:37>> yes.

38:37>> And Chair Hornski,

38:39>> yes. And now we will need to make two

38:41separate motions. Um, yeah,

38:44>> my public comment. Did you just close

38:46me? [laughter]

38:47>> No, you had made your That was for um

38:50anybody listening online that wanted to

38:52make any comments.

38:52>> I just didn't know if you wanted to see

38:54bricks.

38:55>> No, we had seen it and we had actually

38:56we had a premeating with Michelle about

38:58all this and she had explained to us the

39:00brick that you planned on using in the

39:02mortar. So, we kind of already had a

39:03heads up

39:04>> on what was going on.

39:06>> I mean, I'm going to do my best to get

39:08these new bricks to look like these old

39:10bricks. And

39:11>> but we appreciate you even bringing them

39:13in. um honestly because [laughter] again

39:16you you do a lot more than what we're

39:18what we're used to and we really

39:19appreciate that. Um so now we're going

39:21to make two separate motions um to kind

39:24of cover the bases of everything here.

39:26So the first motion is going to be for

39:27the demolition delay waiver.

39:29>> Okay. I'll make a motion for a waiver of

39:31the 12 month building demolition delay.

39:35The commission finds the the proposed

39:37demolition at 48 Cedar Street consisting

39:41of rebuilding two chimneys, repairing

39:44and selective replacement of roof

39:48surfaces i.e. slate tiles, repairing the

39:53porch lattice, rebuilding sections of

39:56the foundation and repointing the

39:59foundation as needed.

40:01replacing the entry stairs if needed.

40:08I think that's it. Would be would not be

40:10detrimental to the historical or

40:12architectural resources of the city of

40:14Worcester.

40:15>> Second.

40:17>> On that motion, Commissioner Bernett,

40:19>> yes.

40:19>> Commissioner Gutierrez Leavote,

40:21>> yes.

40:22>> Commissioner Forester,

40:23>> yes.

40:24>> Commissioner Baker,

40:25>> yes.

40:26>> Commissioner Andre,

40:27>> yes.

40:27>> Commissioner Santos Rustivo,

40:29>> yes. and Chair Harkski.

40:31>> Yes. And now, uh, could I please have a

40:34motion for a certificate of

40:35appropriateness?

40:36>> I shall make a motion for a certificate

40:38of appropriateness.

40:41The commission finds that the changes at

40:4348 Cedar Street consisting of rebuilding

40:46two chimneys, repairing and selective

40:49selectively replacing the roof

40:52structures, i.e. slate tiles, replacing

40:55a rear door,

40:59replacing the roof of that uh entryway

41:02with slate,

41:05repairing the porch lattice where

41:07needed. Repairing shutters as needed.

41:10Repairing damaged siding and trim as

41:13needed. Rebuilding sections of the

41:16foundation and repointing the foundation

41:18as needed. Using bricks to match

41:20existing in color, dimensions, and

41:23texture, and using a mortar visually and

41:26chemically compatible with existing

41:29historic masonry to be approved by city

41:32staff,

41:34installing new windows in boarded up

41:36openings

41:38and replacing entry stairs, if needed,

41:41are appropriate for the Elm Park Local

41:43Historic District.

41:44>> Second on that motion, Commissioner

41:47Bernett.

41:48>> Yes. Commissioner Gutierrez Leavote,

41:50>> yes.

41:51>> Commissioner Forester,

41:52>> yes.

41:53>> Commissioner Baker,

41:54>> yes.

41:54>> Commissioner Andre,

41:56>> yes.

41:56>> Commissioner Santos Restbo,

41:58>> yes.

41:58>> And Chair Holarski,

42:00>> yes. You're all set.

42:02>> Thank you.

42:03>> Would that all owners of old homes were

42:07as conscientious as you?

42:10>> Everyone would It'd be a much happier

42:12world. I think

42:13>> we would we would be out of jobs.

42:15>> Yeah. Right. [laughter]

42:16>> We don't get paid for this.

42:19I mean, I I agree and it it kills me. I

42:22live near Clark in a neighborhood that's

42:24not a local historic district.

42:26>> I've been there for 43 years and I've

42:31watched these beautiful old homes with

42:34woodwork. The woodwork gets knocked off.

42:36They put plastic on it. The history is

42:39gone. And it makes me sick every time it

42:41happens. and and every time it happens,

42:44I gather up the broken woodwork and I

42:47have a

42:47>> use it.

42:48>> I've got a a hoorde of that stuff that

42:50nobody wants anymore.

42:52>> Well, thank you.

42:54>> It's um Yeah, I I'm I was really happy

42:57when they decided to make this area a

43:01historic district and I'm grateful for

43:03the that you all sit here and listen to

43:05this all day long. [laughter]

43:08So,

43:08>> all but Yeah, it's definitely enough.

43:11What's that?

43:12>> No, we appre It's not all day long, but

43:14when we have it, we we sometimes you

43:17people either love us or hate us, but we

43:19we appreciate it nonetheless.

43:21>> I should have said all year long.

43:22>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

43:23>> Right. I mean, you're you're you're

43:25you're doing your best to preserve the

43:28>> quality of of the neighborhood.

43:31>> Well, it's much appreciated.

43:32>> So, likewise. Thank you.

43:34>> Okay. And we're free to go.

43:36>> You're free to go. And any questions

43:38again, Michelle's

43:39>> Yeah. So, yeah, questions, just work it

43:42out with Michelle.

43:43>> Yes. And she will get a decision, right?

43:46And he'll get a decision on all this and

43:48Okay.

43:49>> Yeah.

43:50>> Perfect. Okay.

43:50>> She's not going to be any slower than I

43:52am. [laughter]

43:55>> That's okay. Thank you.

43:57>> Great. So, now we're going to move on to

43:59other business for policies and

44:01procedures, which there are none to

44:03discuss. Um, we have an invitation from

44:05the city of Worcester housing division

44:07to comment on proposed projects at 20th

44:09Street and 29 Bridgeport Street. And we

44:12usually do not make comment on these, so

44:14we are not going to do so this evening.

44:16Um, for approval of minutes, we have uh

44:20May 14th and 28th, June 11th and 25th,

44:25July 9th, and August 20th. Has everyone

44:29had a chance to look over these minutes?

44:31>> I only read May and June. You only read

44:34May and June. We only need four votes on

44:37that, correct?

44:41>> I think that's right. Can you just

44:42specify which which minutes again?

44:43Because you said July 9th, but then you

44:45jump to August 6th.

44:46>> Yes. Because we only have July 9th,

44:48>> July 23rd and August 6th

44:50>> are not ready to be reviewed.

44:53>> Yeah. Got it. Okay.

44:54>> So, it's May 14th and 28th, June 11th

44:57and 25th, July 9th and August 20th.

45:02Can I have a what is it? To make a

45:04motion to accept the minutes as written.

45:06I have

45:07>> Oh, you have a question. Correction.

45:08Yeah. May 14th, I wasn't here and it

45:10says I was.

45:12>> Okay.

45:12>> Okay.

45:14>> Yeah.

45:16>> You can make the motion with that edit.

45:19>> Okay. Okay. I'll make a motion to

45:21approve the minutes of the May 14th with

45:25of Commissioner Andre not present. May

45:2928th, June 11th, June 25th, July 9th,

45:32and August 20th historical commission

45:34meetings as written.

45:37>> Second.

45:42>> So now you just do

45:45>> everyone. Okay. Okay. And on that

45:48motion, Commissioner Bernett.

45:49>> Yes.

45:50>> Commissioner Gutierre's Lavote. Oh,

45:53>> no.

45:54>> Not.

45:56>> We're voting on all of them. approval.

45:58>> We're voting on all of them, which

46:00>> all of the ones except July 23rd and

46:02August 6th. And in the past, Michelle

46:04has said that we can still vote on the

46:06minutes as written as a group. I'm just

46:09going based off of what we've done

46:10before. The only edit that we're making

46:13is that she wasn't present at the May

46:1514th

46:16>> for the two that I was I didn't read

46:18through.

46:19>> So, we can act. Do you want to do an

46:21amendment to that motion to where she

46:22can abstain from the two in which she

46:25wasn't present? Which two were you not

46:27present?

46:28>> July and August. I not present. I just

46:30didn't read through them.

46:31>> She didn't read through them.

46:32>> Oh, okay. Uh,

46:34okay. So,

46:36>> sorry.

46:36>> I'll make an amendment. Okay.

46:37>> That Okay. The two Which ones did you

46:40not read?

46:41>> July and August. Correct. Yeah.

46:43>> Okay. Um, the amendment to that motion

46:46is that um, Commissioner Gutierrez

46:49Levote did not read the July 9th and

46:52August 20th minutes.

46:55So, she is voting on the other four. May

46:5914th, May 28th, June 11, June 25th.

47:02>> Correct.

47:03>> Second. Yes.

47:05>> Doing the best we can here.

47:07>> Okay.

47:09I'm just going to I'm going to restart

47:10that. So then on that motion,

47:12Commissioner Bernett,

47:13>> yes.

47:13>> Commissioner Gutierrez Levod,

47:15>> yes.

47:15>> Commissioner Forester,

47:18>> yes.

47:19>> Commissioner Baker,

47:20>> yes.

47:21>> Commissioner Andre,

47:22>> yes. Commissioner Santos Rustbo.

47:24>> Yes.

47:24>> And Chair Helarski.

47:26>> Yes.

47:27Okay. And that's it. I'm going to

47:30adjourn the meeting. And all in favor

47:31say I.

47:32>> I.

47:32>> Meeting adjourned.