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2024-08-14 Meeting MinutesSRA August 14, 2024 Page 1 of 6 City of Salem, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Redevelopment Authority, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting SRA Members Present: Chair Grace Napolitano, Christopher Dunn, Dean Rubin SRA Members Absent: Christine Madore, Cynthia Nina-Soto, Others Present: Kate Newhall-Smith, Principal Planner Executive Director’s Report No Report was provided. City Initiatives 1. 24 New Derby Street: Proposal to install an art supply lending library on Artists’ Row Ethan Henshaw, an intern with the Mayor’s office, was present to discuss this project. Mr. Henshaw reported that they are looking to install an art cabinet on Artist’s Row, called the Art Exchange. It will be an art supply lending library, similar to the way local lending tiny libraries work. People can leave and take art supplies, paint supplies, sketch books, pencils, yarn, etc. The goal is to make art more accessible to residents. In consultation with the Department of Public Services, it will be placed on the Derby Street side, near the Lobster Shanty. It will be mounted in the cement area next to one of the artists’ stalls. The Mayor’s Office will be responsible for maintenance and ensuring that it is in good condition. The Senior Arts and Culture Planner will assist as well, and they are frequently in the area. A security camera is located directly above it. A local high school will be designing the library. Mr. Rubin expressed concern about the supplies increasing the graffiti in the City. Mr. Henshaw said that issue was not discussed. Mr. Rubin suggested an indoor location may provide more security in that regard. Mr. Henshaw noted that the library location provides for ADA accessibility. Public Comment: Michael Corley, Constituent Services and Special Projects Assistant from the Mayor’s Office, reported that they researched other communities that have installed these types of art exchanges over the past five to six years with success, and that they do want to keep this as accessible as possible. The City of Cambridge has two installed. He added that staff in the Mayor’s Office will seed the exchange, and believes it will be replenished by users. SRA August 14, 2024 Page 2 of 6 VOTE: Rubin made a motion to approve the installation of the art lending library. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. 2. 32 Derby Square: Amendment to Small Project Review: Proposal to separate the approved Old Town Hall preservation project into phases with Phase 1 to include the exterior preservation and accessibility improvements and the review of full design drawings for this phase. Julie Barry, Senior Planner for Arts and Culture, and Don Mills, project architect, Mills Whitaker, were present to provide an update on this project. The project was previously approved by the SRA, subject to more details being submitted. The City has decided to implement the project in phases starting with the exterior work. Interior work will be postponed. The City has received a grant from MHC, and other grants, to help fund the project. A summary of the proposed exterior work includes: - Improve existing accessible entrance at north façade and sidewalk area. - Provide accessible entrance to basement via ramp and stairs at east sidewalk area. - Repairs to exterior door for improvements to life safety and egress conditions. - Provide selective masonry repairs to brickwork and brownstone sills as identified. - Remove five abandoned grilles at exterior faced and tooth-in brickwork to match. - Selective repairs to windows and provide exterior narrow profile storm windows. - Alternate upgrades to existing snow guard rails and provision of ice melt system. - Miscellaneous in-kind repairs to exterior and prep/paint previously painted wood. Submissions to the Architectural Access Board have been made for the exterior and they plan to postpone the interior work for up to five years. Full project approved per V22-107. The Board is expected to review and decide in September. Detailed drawings were presented. The guardrail cap will have ¾” balusters painted black and every 4’ a fin that will mount on the plates. Recessed LED lights in the handrail will be included for lighting the stairway and ramps. A copper ice melt system will be used. It will have a slightly raised profile. Mr. Rubin applauded the fact that they are working to show good faith in what can be done. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the project. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Rubin made a motion to approve the work as proposed pending approval by the DRB. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. SRA August 14, 2024 Page 3 of 6 Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 231 Essex Street: Small Project Review: Review of proposed changes to the replacement bay window Dan Ricciarelli, Seger Architects, was present to discuss the project. The building housing Rockafellas restaurant underwent a window replacement project some years ago that included a contemporary window design. This proposal represents an effort to incorporate a window that is more in keeping with the building. The proposal includes (1) a large window at the bottom, with two smaller windows on top in keeping with the windows in the front of the building, or (2) four over four divided lights, over a large window. The work is expected to begin immediately following approval. Mr. Rubin said he agreed with Mr. Ricciarelli’s recommendation to approve the first option, but felt that the absent members would have been better suited to weigh in. Ms. Napolitano noted that the project would have to go before DRB and then could come back to the SRA for final approval. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Rubin made a motion to move the project forward to DRB with the expectation that it will come back to the SRA for final approval. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. 3. 120 Washington Street: Outdoor Dining – Review of proposed outdoor dining for The Gyro Spot, request to withdraw application VOTE: Rubin made a motion to withdraw the application without prejudice. Should the applicant wish to move forward, they will need to submit a new application. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. 4. 177 Essex Street: Small Project Review – Review of proposed facade painting Derek O’Brien, Peabody Essex Museum, was present to discuss the façade painting. The sign is scheduled to go to the DRB on the 28th. The proposal before the SRA is to paint the building a deep red color to match the PEM logo. SRA August 14, 2024 Page 4 of 6 Renderings and color samples were provided. Mr. Rubin inquired as to whether there were approved colors that should be utilized. Ms. Newhall-Smith reported that the color is within the SHC Guidelines Notebook color pallet, and while projects in the urban renewal district do not need to strictly adhere to these guidelines, we use them to inform decisions. She also suggested that the SRA look at the overall visual impact of the proposal more so than the specific color. She asked Mr. O’Brien whether different colors were looked at or if he considered painting only some of the exterior the new color. Mr. O’Brien was not aware of the color being placed on another building. He added that they are really looking to use the color to tie the store back to the museum and attract pedestrians. Mr. Dunn appreciated the idea of using historic color schemes. Public Comment: Mr. Ricciarelli, Seger Architects, offered to show his screen showing Red’s, which is a similar red as to what is proposed in this application. Mr. Dunn is comfortable moving forward but is interested if the DRB will weigh in on color. He said it would be helpful to have an approved color scheme in place moving forward. Ms. Newhall-Smith noted that they to have the color included in the SHC Guidelines Notebook. Ms. Napolitano noted that it would be very helpful to have more renderings showing the accurate color and more of the streetscape façade to illustrate the impact. The SRA does not weigh in on the sign, only the paint color. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Rubin made a motion to forward the project to DRB and ask them to separate the sign and proposed paint color, and with the expectation that it come back to the SRA. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. 5. 301 Essex Street: Final Design Review – Review of proposal to erect a three and one-half story addition above the existing building (known as Jerry’s Army & Navy Store) with twenty (20) residential units and twelve (12) onsite parking spaces and located inside the building at the first-floor rear with retail space fronting on Essex Street. There will be eight (8) parking spaces provided offsite. Mr. Ricciarelli, Seger Architects, was present to discuss this project, which includes more developed drawings. The variance process has been completed. Drawings were presented of both Summer Street and Essex Street were presented. The façade building will be limited to three materials. Portions will be painted dark gray. They are keeping consistent with what was proposed. No brick is being painted. There are two affordable units included in the project. SRA August 14, 2024 Page 5 of 6 Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. Ms. Napolitano noted that the staff notes describe consultation with a historic restoration team on the construction documents. Ms. Newhall-Smith wished to ensure that appropriate historic restoration occurs as that is what was proposed by the applicant. The project will not have to go before the Historic District Commission, but final construction documents will need to go before the DRB. VOTE: Rubin made a motion to forward the proposal to the DRB for final design review. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. New/Old Business 1. Redevelopment of the Historic Courthouses and the Crescent Lot: Update on Project Status Ms. Newhall-Smith reported that she does not have much of an update, they continue to work on project details, closing which is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2025. Peer review work is happening now for the Planning Board. 2. SRA Financials Received and filed. 3. Other Ms. Newhall-Smith sent an email in regard to the Charlotte Forten Park interpretative panels. Mr. Rubin provided comments. Ms. Barry is coordinating the project. The story was provided in more than one language and illustrates the connection to the City. Ms. Barry is proposing to match the frame and provide visual consistency in the park. Ms. Newhall-Smith requested that comments, if any, be submitted over the next day or two. Approval of Minutes 1. July 10, 2024 VOTE: Rubin made a motion to approve the July 10th minutes, with corrections to the two dates noted. Seconded by: Dunn. Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. Upcoming Meetings 1. DRB: August 28 2. SRA: September 11 (Regular and Annual Meetings) SRA August 14, 2024 Page 6 of 6 Adjournment VOTE: Rubin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by: Dunn Roll Call: Napolitano, Dunn, and Rubin. 3-0 in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033