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234 ESSEX STREET- WARNING NOTICE 10-7-25 CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS BUILDING DEPARTMENT ` 98 WASHINGTON STREET,Z" FLOOR TEL.(978)745-9595 DOMINICK PANGALLO STAVROULA ORFANOS MAYOR BUILDING COMMISSIONER/DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WARNING NOTICE PROPERTY LOCATION: 234 Essex Street October 71h,2025 Daniel Minkle 126 Federal Street,#1 Salem,MA 01970 RE: Signage for Black Cat,LLC Dear Mr.Minkle, As of October 71h,2025 it has come to my attention that your establishment requires on premises signage that complies with Section 4-51, On-Premises Signs in Nonresidential Districts,of the City of Salem Code of Ordinances. I have been informed by the Salem Redevelopment Authority (SRA)that you received approval for(2) wall signs on July 16,2025(sign permit#SP-25-3) and approval for(2) window signs on August 28,2025(sign permit#SP-25-42). The received permits expire after 180 days and if no action is taken within that time,then you would need to apply for the permits again. While you are within your 6-month timeline to execute the work, the aforementioned signage violations have been on going since June of 2024.I have issued you a violation notice on January 15, 2025 giving you warning to comply with the City's ordinance and the SRA's requests. I request that you remove the temporary banners and install the permitted signage by no later than Monday.October 2716.2025. If your signage has not been brought into compliance by this date after having been served with a Violation Notice and this Warning Notice,then further enforcement actions may take place, including the issuance of violation fines of up to$300 per day. Please contact the Building Department at(978)619-5649 upon receipt of this notice.If you are aggrieved by this letter, your appeal is to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Sincerely, �9 o.�✓�. ail Kubik Local Building Inspector Salem ® Redevelopment Authority October 7, 2025 Dan Minkle Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe 234 Essex Street Salem, MA 01970 RE: Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe Signage—234 Essex Street,Salem, MA Dear Mr. Minkle, As we have most recently via email on September 25, 2025,signage has been permitted for Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe. The temporary banners on the windows and above the business entrance need to be addressed, as they are currently in violation of both the Salem Redevelopment Authority(SRA)and the City. Permitted wall and window signs need to be installed. Temporary banners at Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe have been out of compliance with the City of Salem Sign code for over 2%=years. Sign permits which address the violation have been issued and now require corresponding sign fabrication and installation. Wall signage for the Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe was reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB)at their April 23, 2025 meeting.The Board recommended approval of the proposed wall signs which preceded issuance of the wall sign permit on July 16, 2025. Window signage was briefly discussed at the April 2025 DRB meeting which the Board separated from the wall sign recommendation to allow timely sign installation.The Board noted that window signage materials and renderings would be compiled in a separate application to be reviewed at a later date. Prior to DRB review of window signage materials, Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD)staff met with Mr. Minkle on May 30th and July 22nd.The meetings included sign coverage questions,sign code questions, ideas for window signage solutions,frosted window treatments, and temporary window paintings. Window signage materials were submitted for the August 2025 DRB meeting. The DRB reviewed and recommended approval of proposed window signage materials at their August 27, 2025 meeting. Window signage permits were issued the following day on August 28,2025. Throughout the window signage material gathering, DPCD also asked for a status update regarding installation of wall signage. DPCD has been in communication with Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe regarding signage violations since June 2024. Additionally, the City of Salem Building Department issued a violation notice on January 15, 2025,for the temporary banners over the main entry and coverage of eight windows. Sign permits SP- 25-3 and SP-25-42 have been issued and require corresponding sign installation to address the violations. If you do not remove the temporary banners or install the permitted signage within 20 days of this letter further enforcement actions will take place. Please contact me at 978-619-5685 ex.42518 with any questions. Sincerely, 5trwi.0 Ouraxd Stephanie Owens Senior Planner Cc: Tom Daniel, SRA Executive Director Stavroula Orfanos, Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer/Inspectional Services Director Gail Kubik,Assistant Building Inspector