There is a high bar when it comes to evaluating a nomination for an exterior paint job. Painting is a necessary maintenance item for many homes and it can be done without much consideration. The work done at 254 Lafayette Street exceeded this high standard and sets an excellent example for an exterior renovation. Where layers of paint once hid trim details it is now removed, where unimaginative beiges covered all surfaces indiscriminately, careful consideration has now been made to showcase different materials and designs. The overall effect is a celebration of the Victorian style of the house, flaunting all the decoration and delight that the building possesses. For this building in the Lafayette historic district it is notable that the owners approached the Historic Commission with a well-thought out paint scheme in place, seeking to showcase the building style, not trying to skirt by with the minimum effort. The high bar for a quality paint job is only met when true care and effort is made to celebrate the building.
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The Classical-revival style Mary and Michael Donahue House was originally constructed in 1870, with the storefront added in 1900 and the full 3rd floor in 1912. Little changed in the next 100 years and when Ben Carlson, a builder and local landlord, purchased the building in 2018 the storefront remained a notable feature of the run-down looking building – though it had been used as a residential space for many years. Mr. Carlson recognized that the once run-down building was ideally suited, both in location and layout, to provide middle income condos close to downtown. Originally, he proposed a new, altered storefront – while restoring the upper windows and repairing the wood cladding. At the urging of the Historic Commission the owner devised a plan to retain and restore the existing wooden storefront. To accommodate the need for ventilation and access for the first story unit, a new wood window was approved for the building elevation that overlooks a small corner park. The result is a restoration project that truly respects the building’s evolution from residential to commercial and back, with the option of future commercial use as the building, and Essex Street, evolve.
We were really, truly blown away by the turn out for our 2019 Annual Meeting on Friday! Thank you to all who joined us at Old Town Hall, and congratulations to the nine deserving Preservation Award winners, who we'll share with you over the next week and a half. First of all, we want to extend a warm welcome to this year's new board members! We are so excited to be the beneficiaries of your talent and passion over the next few years:
Caroline Watson-Felt is a lifelong Salem resident with a passion for history, Caroline’s first job after graduating high school was with the Salem Partnership where she supported the creation and launch of both the Essex National Heritage Commission as well as Salem Main Streets. She moved on to the Mayor’s Office for the City of Salem followed by the Office of Special Events and Conferences at Salem State. Her diverse professional experience includes serving as a local nonprofit board leader, community and employee engagement manager, marketer, event-planner, VIP talent handler, local actor and director. A volunteer for Salem Main Streets, Grace Episcopal Church, Go Out Loud, Salem Theatre Company, and various political campaigns, Caroline, who knits when it’s cold and swims when it’s warm, enjoys live music, theatre, long coastal drives and beach walks with her wife, son and dog. She is excited to bring her skills, passion, and voice to Historic Salem. Anya Wilczynski is currently a program manager at Essex Heritage, the regional non-profit encompassing Essex County. Previously, she was the operations manager of Historic Salem. Her background is in historic preservation but her true passion is for organizational development and growth. She lives in Salem, in the Point neighborhood. Paul Wright works as an Energy Analyst throughout eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, helping builders and homeowners design and build sustainable homes and to meet energy code requirements. He has extensive experience in retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient; both as an insulation installer as well as working as an energy auditor in the Mass Save program. He completed the Masters of Design Studies in Historic Preservation program at the Boston Architectural College in 2015. Paul was raised in central and metro west Massachusetts, and moved to Salem in 2013 shortly after college. He was initially drawn to Salem because of its thriving public history scene, working briefly at Pioneer Village and Old Town Hall, and then as a tour guide at the Phillips and Gedney house museums. He currently resides in the Gallows Hill neighborhood. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding and has been excitedly involved in plans for upgrading the Ryan Brennan Memorial Skatepark in Gallows Hill Park. Congratulations and welcome, Caroline, Anya, and Paul! For several months we have been reporting on a zoning overlay district that is being considered by the City Council. At all public meetings and in written comment we have been clear on two issues: 1 – We want to see historic schools, churches and other large civic buildings reused (and they would be great for housing). 2 – We want any new construction on these neighborhood sites to suit the surrounding neighborhood. In early January the planning department submitted a re-draft of the ordinance, in response to public comment, that allowed for flexibility in reuse of existing buildings and a limited ability for buildings to be expanded in a way that met the character of the surrounding neighborhood. We were pleased to support this version of the ordinance at the January 9th meeting, as did most members of the community who also commented. Unfortunately, the ordinance has again been redrafted. This is a result of Planning Board recommendations made on January 17th. The redraft allows for new construction, including additions, on the historic sites that could be up to 55 feet tall. It also allows for very high density. For example, it could allow up to 40 residential units at 5 Broad Street (the former Senior Center), over 150 units at the St. James Church site on Federal Street, and over 140 units at Immaculate Conception on Hawthorne Blvd. Many of the properties eligible for this overlay zoning are in residential neighborhoods, yet the allowed zoning would be similar to that allowed in the downtown district (B5 zoning) which is the densest and tallest zoning in the City. At the next meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, February 14th, the City Council will either vote on the Ordinance or refer it to Committee for further revisions. It is Historic Salem’s position that this Ordinance should not be passed in its current state. Allowing such extreme new construction does not meet the intent that the ordinance “allow for reuse..but minimize impacts to surrounding neighborhoods.” Because we support the reuse of historic schools and churches we would like the ordinance to be referred to Committee so it can be adjusted to allow for new construction consistent with the character of the neighborhood surrounding each unique site. The January 9th version of the ordinance, that we supported, allowed for new construction that followed the underlying zoning of the neighborhood. This is how new construction is handled in the best practices model ordinance published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Salem is full of examples of churches and schools reused without additions or large new buildings. We view the historic buildings in our city as benefits (cost savings include the ability to reuse exterior walls, foundations, roofs while avoiding the monetary and environmental costs of demolition) not as detriments. People want to live in these interesting buildings embedded in the community. We do not think developers will need to be convinced to take on these projects by allowing excessive new construction. If you agree please consider writing to the City Councilors. Councillor contact information can be found on the city website. Here are some possible messages. We encourage you to customize them. (And don't miss the links at the bottom of the post that give more information about the ordinance and HSI’s position) Sample Letter 1To City Councillors: I am writing to ask that you not take action on the Municipal and Religious Adaptive Reuse Overlay District Ordinance until it has been revised to reflect that new construction comply with the provisions of the underlying zoning. Please take the time to get this Ordinance right as it will affect many properties and neighborhoods across the City. Sample Letter 2To City Councillors: I am writing about the Municipal and Religious Adaptive Reuse Overlay District Ordinance because I support the reuse of historic buildings, and specifically the three former school buildings currently being considered for reuse. However, in its current form, the Ordinance should not be passed. The Planning Board’s recommendations for large 5-story 55-foot high new construction should not be accepted. The dimensional recommendations are completely out of scale with many of the neighborhoods where these buildings are located, and the dimensions do not represent the wishes of the many residents who have spoken at the public hearings. The density that would be allowed for new construction is 15 times (or more) that allowed in the underlying neighborhood zoning and is too high. Further, the definition of eligibility as presently written is so broad that many potential sites could be included that are not consistent with the intent of the ordinance. At a minimum, eligibility should be limited to buildings currently in municipal and religious ownership and use, not just use. Zoning is complex and long lasting. Please take a few more weeks to develop this ordinance so that it does not create years of unintended consequences. Our Letter to the City Councillors - January 22, 2019
Memo to City Councillors from Planning Department incl. Planning Board Recommendations - January 29, 2019
Previous Draft of Overly District Ordinance - January 8, 2019
Original HSI Preservation Alert about the overlay district (December 5, 2018)
Update #1 about the overlay district (January 17, 2019) Has a preservation effort, large or small, caught your eye or earned your admiration? Historic Salem is looking for more cherished home renovations, hand-crafted fences, breweries, civic buildings, lifelong preservation advocates, or even lighthouses to recognize with a 2019 Preservation Award. Completed projects in any neighborhood in Salem are eligible for nomination. Nominated properties can be private, public, or non-profit; residential or commercial; hand-crafted or urban-scaled. We encourage you to look around your neighborhood and city for projects worthy of recognition, projects that celebrate the art of preservation. Awards will be presented at Historic Salem’s Annual Meeting on the evening of May 3, 2019. This free event, open to the public, will highlight our city’s preservation successes and challenges and celebrate the historic resources of Salem, which are the key to the city’s identity, quality of life, and economic vitality. A reception for the Preservation Award winners will be held after the awards ceremony. Nomination forms are now available on our website. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead Happy New Year everyone! We're very excited to celebrate Historic Salem, Inc.'s 75th Anniversary in 2019. The founding of Historic Salem, Inc. in 1944 was bound up in the fortunes of two of Salem's most historically significant homes. The Witch House, home of Salem Witch Trials Judge Jonathan Corwin, and the Cook House, the last Salem Home of renowned navigator Nathaniel Bowditch (now known as the Bowditch House), were both at risk of being demolished to accommodate the widening of North & Essex Streets. Recognizing the gravity of the potential loss of these buildings, a group of concerned citizens gathered in Salem's City Council Chamber on April 28, 1944 to find a solution. At the meeting, Warren Butler, Chair of the Salem Planning Board, and Boston Architect Gordon Robb proposed moving the historic houses away from the street in order to preserve them and still allow for the planned widening of the roads. Mayor Edward Coffey assembled an Executive Committee tasked with raising the money to put this preservation plan into action. The Executive Committee was incorporated as Historic Salem, Inc. in June of 1944, with a purpose and mission "to preserve historic sites, buildings and objects and to work for the education of the community in the true value of the same." George Benson was elected HSI's first president, Warren Butler its first vice president, and Salem City Treasurer Arthur Brennan its first treasurer and secretary. In the following years, the Witch House and the Bowditch House were both successfully relocated and restored. Today, the Witch House is a historic house museum owned and operated by the City of Salem. The house interprets the Salem Witch Trials and the early modern cosmology of Salem's seventeenth-century inhabitants. It is a major contributor to the city's local tourism economy, seeing about 50,000 visitors a year, most in October. The Bowditch House serves as the headquarters of Historic Salem, Inc. Nathaniel Bowditch artifacts and informational museum panels are on view for the benefit of Salem residents and visitors alike. In December we reported on a draft zoning overlay that would be discussed at a Public Hearing. At that meeting, December 13, the public was clear on two issues: 1 – We want to see historic schools, churches and other large civic buildings reused. 2 – We want any new construction on these neighborhood sites to suit the surrounding neighborhood. To ensure this we agree with the draft ordinance when it allows for liberal zoning for the existing buildings. We disagreed with the generous allowances for new construction on the sites and asked that they be constrained to meet the same requirements as the surrounding neighborhood. When the ordinance was publicized in December it allowed very tall (50 feet or higher), very dense new construction to be placed very close to property lines (within 5 feet). In response to public comments from dozens of community members the city’s planning department made appreciated changes that limited new construction to the dimensions that matched the surrounding neighborhoods. This was just what we had hoped for. We supported the changes (with some concern about allowed density) at the January 9 public hearing and looked forward to an overlay district that would have broad community support. This week, we were unpleasantly surprised to hear that the Planning Board, in their recommendations to the City Council, will suggest that 55 feet be the allowable height in all areas of the city. This is 20 feet taller than the allowed height in our historic one and two-family neighborhoods. That means that a neighborhood where the school or church is already the largest building on the block (built to have a grand civic presence) can now have equally large additions or new buildings constructed that tower over their neighbors. This height, together with the allowed density, could allow well over a hundred units to be built at sites such as the St. James and Immaculate Conception churches with their associated school buildings. The ordinance states that its intention is “to allow for reuse..but minimize impacts to surrounding neighborhoods”. We believe that following national best practices (see the National Trust ordinance below) that encourage building reuse but restrict new construction meets this intent. We believe that allowing significant new construction that is much larger than surrounding historic neighborhoods does not meet this stated intention. We will be asking the City Council not to pass the ordinance until adequate protections are put in place for our historic neighborhoods. We ask you to let your city councilors know how you feel (contact information on city website). Review the list of potential properties to see what sits in your neighborhood. Please note – the city is not required to notify abutters of a zoning change. If you know people who live very close to these properties, please forward this and make sure they are aware of this proposed change. Read our letter to the City Council
Here are some ways to learn more about this proposed zoning overlay: The edited version of the ordinance, that we received from city planning staff on January 8, is here:
The December draft of the ordinance itself is here (this has been changed and is included only as reference): Click to read Municipal and Religious Properties Adaptive Reuse Overlay District Draft Ordinance on City’s website. Our December letter to the City Council is here:
This is a list of religious or city-owned properties to which the overlay will likely apply (the list is not exclusive). Click to see list
The sample ordinance from the National Trust. Click for link to ordinance. City Council chambers - December 13, 2018 at 6:30pm. (The city's meeting notice is posted here) Proposed Zoning Changes: Use your voice to ensure positive changes. The City Council and Planning Board will hold a Joint Public Hearing on December 13, 2018 in the City Council Chambers. This is the time to let Councilors and Planning Board Members know your thoughts on a proposed Adaptive Reuse Overlay District. Here are some ways to learn more about this proposed zoning overlay: The ordinance itself is here >> (Link to Municipal and Religious Properties Adaptive Reuse Overlay District Draft Ordinance on City’s website.) This is a list of the properties to which the overlay will apply >> (Link to List of Municipal and Religious Properties.) This list includes most of the religious and city-owned buildings in the city, a total of 28 properties. Please take a moment to read the zoning ordinance, especially if you live very near one of these sites. The city planning department is available to answer your questions, as they have many of ours, or consider calling your city councilor to discuss the ordinance. We will be attending the Joint Public Hearing and invite you to join us[1] Historic Salem’s thoughts: The stated intent of the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District is to facilitate the appropriate preservation and reuse of eligible buildings -- this is an outcome that Historic Salem wholeheartedly supports. However, the details of the proposed ordinance will also allow, and therefore encourage, substantial new construction on the lots on which the buildings are located. In some cases, additions to building footprint would be allowed 5 feet from neighboring property lines[2] and in others, the existing buildings could have several floors added to their height. Important to note - any proposed new construction could be 50 feet tall, or higher. This is in contrast to the surrounding residential neighborhoods, which generally have buildings less than 35 feet tall. If you want to read more about the allowable dimensions for new construction on these school and church sites look for Section 8.7.4 in the ordinance draft.
We think that in order to meet the stated purpose, to allow for reuse…which will best serve the community but will minimize impacts to surrounding neighborhoods, additions and other new construction should be required to meet the dimensional requirements of the underlying or adjacent zoning – so that it fits into the neighborhood. New construction should also be a carefully considered with approval from the Historic Commission and Design Review Board[3]. These changes to the proposed ordinance would allow for reuse flexibility while also respecting the civic presence of the historic buildings and the existing neighborhoods in which they sit. ------------------------------------ Some notes: [1] The public comment period is often closed on the night of the Joint Public Hearing, so we suggest comments be sent by December 13th. [2] In an R-1 (Single Family) or an R-2 (2 family) zone new construction must be 10 feet from the lot line, and in R-3 zoning, which is a higher density, multi-family zone the minimum is 20 feet from adjacent properties. [3] An existing zoning designation that has similar setbacks, density, height and parking allowances is the B-5 (Central Development) zone, which covers downtown Salem. In this zone, projects are successfully reviewed by the Salem Redevelopment Authority and Design Review Board to ensure that projects best serve the community. "Old and young, we dream of graves and monuments" — from "The Ambitious Guest" Historic Salem, Inc. is excited to celebrate Nathaniel Hawthorne in recognition of the 350th anniversary of The House of the Seven Gables on this year's Christmas in Salem house tour, A Very Hawthorne Holiday. While tour-goers are rounding the outer limit of the tour route along Hawthorne Boulevard, they will certainly notice the figure of the author memorialized there in bronze. Salem's statue of its most famous son was sculpted by Connecticut-born artist Bela Lyon Pratt (1867–1917). The statue was on display at Boston's Museum of Fine Art before being purchased with funds raised by the Nathaniel Hawthorne Memorial Association and moved to its current location in 1925, the same year that the Hawthorne Hotel was opened. In his sculpture, Pratt chose to portray the author sitting on rocks by the ocean because, he said, "It was [Hawthorne's] habit when in Salem to walk alone by the sea and to sit for hours looking across the water." The work is meant to convey Hawthorne's genius and the isolation brought on by his "brooding spirit." Hawthorne once described his feeling for Salem as "not love, but instinct." He was not particularly fond of his hometown and spent much of his life trying to escape, only to be pulled back by circumstances beyond his control. It is certainly entertaining to imagine the dark humor that Hawthorne might find in the situation were he alive today to see this nine-foot statue situated upon a boulevard bearing his name, in a city he was always trying to leave behind. Since the initiation of the North River Canal planning process in 2000, Historic Salem, Inc. has participated in and supported the goals of the North River Canal Corridor (NRCC) Master Plan and zoning ordinance. All the neighborhoods that abut the NRCC are historic neighborhoods which will be affected by development in the Corridor. A key aspect of the NRCC Master Plan is the importance of neighborhood character as reflected by the customized goals for each section of the Corridor. Another key part of the NRCC zoning ordinance is the review oversight of the Design Review Board (DRB).
The DRB is a board that possesses specialized skills and experience to address urban design issues as they apply in many areas of our city. Their value has been proven in the long tradition of work with the Salem Redevelopment Authority. The Planning Board and City Council have also shown their recognition of the valuable role of the DRB, as evidenced by the recent change that adds DRB review to projects in the Urban Entrance Corridors. We support the work of the Design Review Board throughout the city and find that the iterative nature of their review improves each project that they evaluate. Since the introduction of the NRCC Zoning District in 2003, as far as we know, every development approved by the Planning Board has received a positive recommendation from the DRB. With the recent approval by the Planning Board of a project (16-18-20R Franklin Street) that received a negative recommendation from the DRB there is now precedent to allow projects with a negative recommendation to move forward. This dismissal of the DRB decision undermines the clear intent of the NRCC zoning ordinance. Historic Salem believes that any project, in any zoning district, that must seek a DRB recommendation should receive positive endorsement to qualify for final consideration by other boards. Historic Salem supports action to clarify the DRB relationship with the Planning Board to insure that the intent of the NRCC Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance is honored, and to improve communication and collaboration among all city boards. |
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