180 Derby Street - C of H application - replace brick wall with non-brick wall2/1/23, 8:19 AM about:blank
about:blank 1/1
Salem Historical Commission
98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 (978) 619-5685
Application for: CERTIFICATE OF HARDSHIP - HCCH-23-1
Date of
Submission:
January 16, 2023 Owner at Submission
(from Assessor)
ASSOCIATION FOR RELIEF OF
AGED AND DESTITUTE
WOMEN
Applicant name:Martha Ryan Owner (from
Applicant)
Applicant phone:6025106105 Owner Phone 978-740-2493
Applicant email:witchgal58@comcast.net Owner Email jkane@brookhousehome.com
Applicant is:
Address of Property: 180 DERBY STREET
Declared District: Derby Street Year Built (From Assessor)1861
Occupancy (from
Assessor)
Zoning (From Assessor)NULL
Building Type (from
Assessor)
Property Use (From
Assessor)
Type of Work: DemolitionAlterationReconstruction
Applicant's Description
of Work:
On 8/9/22, the six-foot brick wall along the Brookhouse Home's western border
collapsed following heavy rains. The cause of the collapse was attributed to the
impact of water and pressure against a deteriorating brick wall not designed to act
as a retaining wall between properties with a difference in grade exceeding four
feet. Multiple contractors and two structural engineers were consulted regarding
the clean-up, repair and replacement of the brick wall. The cost of replacing the
brick wall ranged from $78,650 to $147,00 with no guarantee that the wall would
not collapse again given the difference in grade and hydrostatic pressure over time.
Brookhouse Home is requesting a Certificate of Hardship to pursue a combination
landscaping and partial installation of a non-brick retaining wall option. This option
is less costly and uses a landscaping design and construction plan that will preserve
the beauty of the existing property line while offering a landscaping and structural
solution that supports a longterm, affordable retaining wall. The proposal consists
of the demolition of the collapsed and remaining brick wall along approximately 96
linear feet of Brookhouse Home's western property boundry; removal of all debris
to dump facility; backfill 80 cubic yards of material, sub-grading it along existing
grade and slope to lawn height; excavation of 12-inch deep by 16-inch wide trench
to accomodate installation of a 4-ft high by 70-ft long retaining wall composed of
IDEAL FATFACE BLOCKS; lawn and shrub removal, repair, and replanting as needed
to preserve as much of original garden area as possible. Landworks Studio will
oversee the project with Tonny 's Construction and Landscaping performing the
work at a cost not to exceed $45,500.