Cataldo Ambulance Materials - June 2021
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the Planning Board
FROM: Helen Sides, Vice Chair, Design Review Board
SUBJECT: DRB Recommendation – 4 Franklin Street
DATE: June 24, 2021
CC: Tom Daniel, AICP, Director, Dept. of Planning & Community Development
Mason Wells, Planner
The Design Review Board (DRB) reviewed the above-referenced project at its April 28th, May 26th, and
June 23rd meetings. Board members reviewed the design of the project in accordance with the regulations
of the North River Canal Corridor (NRCC) Mixed Use District and took public comment at each of the
meetings. Throughout the design review process the applicant, represented by David Stockless, Icon
Architecture at the meetings, was professional, respectful, open to design suggestions, and amenable to
altering the design to meet Board and community concerns. The design, especially the materiality, is now
more appropriate for the neighborhood, the building’s use, and its location.
Proposal: On behalf of the property owner, CAS Salem, LLC, Attorney Joe Correnti of Correnti &
Darling, LLC submitted a proposal to redevelop the property at 4 Franklin Street in a two-phased
approach. Phase 1 is the current permitting focus and includes the construction of a business office and
ambulance facility with associated employee parking area, utilities, landscaping, and harbor walking
path along the North River.
Referenced Plans and Documents
1. Site Plan Review for Business Office & Ambulance Facility, 4 Franklin Street, prepared by
Griffin Engineering Group, 495 Cabot Street, 2nd Floor, Beverly, MA 01915, dated January 20,
2021 unless otherwise noted, containing the following plans:
a. Plan Notes, sheet C-1.
b. Existing Site Plan, sheet C-2.
c. Demolition Plan, sheet C-3.
d. Proposed Site Layout, sheet C-4, revised 3/25/21.
e. Proposed Grading & Draining, sheet C-5, revised 3/25/21.
f. Proposed Utilities Plan, sheet C-6, revised 3/25/21.
g. Proposed Landscaping Plan, sheet C-7, revised 3/25/21 and 4/7/21.
h. Detail I, sheet C-8.
i. Detail II, sheet C-9.
j. Detail III, sheet C-10, revised 3/25/21.
k. Lighting Plan, sheet 1 of 1, prepared by WLS Lighting, 1919 Windsor Place, Fort
Worth, TX 76110, dated 11/5/20.
2. Project Narrative dated 1/20/21.
3. Environmental Impact Statement dated 1/20/21.
4. Elevation Plans and Renderings, prepared by Icon Architecture, 101 Summer Street, Boston,
MA 02110, submitted on 3/25/21, revised and resubmitted on 5/13/21 and 6/17/21.
Page 2 of 3
5. A series of public comments submitted as letters and during the public meetings.
6. Staff comments dated 4/22/21, 5/20/21, and 6/18/21.
DRB Review: Throughout the DRB’s review of this project, particular attention was paid to the overall
massing and visual impact of the structure with a desire to reduce potential negative impacts through
architectural elements, materials, and colors to reinforce building scale so that it is an appropriate
addition to North Salem and the NRCC district.
The architect has made several revisions since the first presentation of the building design:
• The metal paneling has been removed and replaced it with cementitious panels and clapboards
in a gray color palette.
• To ground the building, the applicant has added a gray brick veneer base from grade to the
bottom sills of the first-floor windows.
• The North Street façade includes a series of windows to mimic the garage doors on the opposite
side of the building, opening this façade to natural light.
• Removal of the significant architectural feature at the corner of the building facing North Street
in favor of a small awning over the access door, which reduces the significance of this entrance
and emphasizes the main entrance on the opposite side of the building.
• Addition of a cornice along the rooflines of both sections of the building.
• Landscaping has been increased, softening the edges of the building.
• Screening of mechanical systems on the roof and at grade will hide this infrastructure from
view.
Building Mass and Design
Board members believe that the building design is appropriate for not only its location, but for its use.
This is a unique building with a unique use as a private office building with the garage bay/ambulance
component. It is not a civic building or open to the general public.
The renderings provided by the architect accurately portray the building, however they do not provide
neighborhood context. The building looks large, looming over the adjacent public ways. However,
when members dug into the massing of the building, they determined that it is not a large building,
comparatively. It may be larger than the Speedway across Franklin Street, but it is comparable to the
three-family structures next to the Speedway.
Board members found that the massing and design of the building is appropriate for the neighborhood,
the NRCC, and the ECOD.
Materiality
The NRCC-prescribed preferred materials of brick, wood, and other natural materials are not an
appropriate choice for this building. Many of the public comments referenced the applicant’s Danvers
location, which is in a refurbished brick firehouse. To compare the proposal for the Salem location to
the Danvers location is not a fair comparison and to ask the applicant to construct a red brick, civic-
appearing building for an office and ambulance station is not a fair request.
Many public comments referenced the brick structures across North Street and the North Street fire
station as context for this building. While there are brick structures sprinkled along North Street, there
are structures covered in clapboards, vinyl, and stucco. There are buildings with peaked roofs and flat
roofs. There are single- and two-family homes, commercial buildings, multi-family buildings. There is
no one building style or material representing the area; the context-providing neighborhood is a mix of
all types of architecture, massing, and materials.
Page 3 of 3
The applicant is seeking to use materials of the present time on a new building, which the Board voted
to support.
Landscaping and Screening
The additional vegetation along the North Street façade softens the building and provides a more
visually pleasant experience as pedestrians travel through the adjacent city-owned property as it
connects with the path across the river.
The mechanicals at grade as screened by a wall covered with the same clapboard as is used on the
ambulance portion of the building, effectively incorporating and blending the mechanical area with the
building.
DRB Recommendation: While the vote to recommend approval of this design to the Planning Board
was not unanimous (5 in favor, 1 in descent), the majority of the Board members believed that the
design, massing, and siting are in compliance with the regulations and standards of the NRCC and the
Entrance Corridor Overlay District.
The Board would like to offer the following recommendations for your consideration:
1. While the materiality has improved from the originally proposed metal paneling, the applicant
can continue to improve the building’s appearance. The mix of panels and clapboards in a
cementitious material is appropriate. The applicant could further examine color options. The
gray color palette can read as cold and unwelcoming. A warmer tone for the building would go
far in integrating the new building with the surrounding neighborhood.
2. The Board is invested in the design of this building and would like the Planning Board to
require the applicant to share the final design plans and color palette with the Board at a
regularly scheduled public meeting.
3. If the applicant is to provide revised renderings, they should include abutting buildings to
provide context for the new building and how it will fit into the existing neighborhood.
Kate Newhall-Smith
Principal Planner
City of Salem
98 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
knewhallsmith@salem.com
978-619-5685
June 23, 2021
RE: 4 Franklin Street Design Review Board Revisions
Dear Kate,
In response to the DRB’s comments from the May 23rd hearing, the submission
updates include the following modifications:
1. All metal panel has been eliminated from the façade of the building
and replaced with Fiber Cement Panel and Battens at the seams.
2. The North Street Canopy has been reduced in size and the color is
now gray.
3. The signage has been moved to the garage portion of the building, yet
we understand final signage approval will come later.
4. A deep gray brick base has been added from grade to window sill
height at the Fiber Cement Panel portion of the building.
We look forward to reviewing these modifications at the hearing on June 23, 2021.
Thank you,
David Stockless, AIA
Assoc. Principal
Cc: Joe Correnti - Correnti & Darling LLP
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY: PERSPECTIVES
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY: PERSPECTIVES
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY : PERSPECTIVES
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY : PERSPECTIVES
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY: ELEVATIONS
NORTHEAST ELEVATION
SOUTHWEST ELEVATION
Fiber Cement Panel
Steel Canopy
7” Cementitious Lap Siding
Aluminum Frame and Glazing System
Aluminum and Glass Overhead Doors
Veneer Brick System
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY: ELEVATIONS
NORTHWEST ELEVATION
SOUTHEAST ELEVATION
7” Cementitious Panel Siding
Fiber Cement Panel
Aluminum Frame and Glazing System
Fiber Cement Panel
Wood-Look Panels
Bollard with Light
Screen Wall at Mechanical Equipment
Screen Wall at Mechanical Equipment
Veneer Brick System
6'-9 7/8"
7'-0"
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49'-4 1/4"
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70'-2 3/4"
FRANKLIN STREET
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MECHANICAL PAD WITH ENCLOSURE WALLS
20'-0 1/8"
3'-0"
CATALDO AMBULANCE FACILITY FLOOR PLANS
SALEM, MA.
1/4" = 1'-0"1 LEVEL 1 FLOOR PLAN