Historical Commission Meeting

The commission held preliminary Historic Preservation Special Permit (HPSP) hearings for two downtown redevelopment projects and reviewed an update to a 40B proposal. For the Fuller Building at 45 Main Street, the owners presented existing conditions, historic photographs, and proposed exterior work including raising the rear addition’s flat roof by four feet to create a second commercial space on Friend Street; they said they will pursue Massachusetts Historical Commission funding and federal rehab tax credits and requested AHC support. AHC noted the Fuller Building is listed on MACRIS (Form B AME.11) and cannot make a formal historic-eligibility determination at this stage, then voted to draft an initial letter of support to the Planning Board (passed 6-0) with Meghan to draft input for the chair’s review.

For the Carriage Hill Lofts project at 1-9 Oakland Street the project team reviewed the site history (including the 1888 fire), existing conditions of the Clark and Hollander buildings, and proposed work: restoration of the existing buildings, a new six-story building on the former railroad right-of-way, 124 apartments (including live-work studios), three commercial spaces, and 155 parking spaces. AHC again noted the buildings are recorded on MACRIS (Form B AME.486) and agreed to draft an initial letter of support to the Planning Board so the HPSP process can begin (passed 6-0); Meghan will draft input for the chair. The commission also reviewed updated materials for the 40B development at 276 Main Street (applicants reduced the project scope and currently propose no alterations to the historic main brick structure). Commissioners raised design concerns about four proposed duplex cottages and agreed to compile written comments for Meghan to consolidate and forward to the ZBA. Two agenda items — workflow/deadlines and revisions to the definition of "Demolition" in Article 40 of the Demolition Delay Bylaw — were tabled to the next meeting.