WINDOW RESTORATION AND REPLACEMENT Salem
Redevelopment
Authority
Decision
211 Bridge Street
The Bridge at 211 —Window Restoration: Phase I
Meeting Date: January 9, 2019
Members Present: Gary Barrett, David Guarino, Dean Rubin
Members Absent: Grace Napolitano, Russell Vickers
Decision: At a regular meeting of the Salem Redevelopment Authority(SRA), upon a motion
duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to approve Phase I of the window
restoration project at The Bridget at 211, which includes the restoration of 19, first-floor,
windows in the 1898 annex of the structure as designed and presented.
Referenced Plans and Documents
1. Application package prepared by Robert D. Farley Associates Architects, 89 Turnpike
Road, Suite 208, Ipswich, MA 01938, containing the Scope of Work and a plan entitled,
'The Bridge at 211, Window Restoration, Phase I, 211 Bridget Street, Salem,
Massachusetts, dated 2/26/18.
2. Staff Comments dated 1/9/19.
Conditions of Approval
1. Consistencv with Anproved Design/Plans: Should the applicant determine that the
approved window restoration may not be completed as detailed in the presented Scope
of Work and associated plan, he/she/they shall return to the SRA to review proposed
modifications prior to making any changes in the field.
Findings
1. The SRA holds a facade easement on this structure, which is recorded at the Southern
Essex District Registry of Deeds in book 6673, page 352. As such the Authority is a
monitoring/review agent for modifications to the facade, including window work.
2. The applicant received Community Preservation Act funding for the window restoration
initiative. Due to the funding source, the applicant is required to place a Preservation
Restriction on the exterior of the fagade and follow the Secretary of the Interior's
standards for the restoration of historic structures. This project will be subsequently
reviewed by the Salem Historical Commission for compliance with the drafted PR and
the pertinent standards and criteria.
3. The SRA reviewed the proposal, the facade easement, and staff comments at its 1/9/19
meeting and acknowledged the applicant's detail-oriented presentation that confirmed
the consistency of the restoration work with the stipulations listed in the fagade
easement and the standards governing historic structures.
Signature of the SRA
By the signature below, I certify that this decision accurately reflects the actions of the SRA.
Tom Daniel, AICP
Executive Director
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th . bridg at
December 19, 2018
Tom Devine,AICP,Senior Planner
City of Salem
98 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
RE: SRA Review of Proposed Window Restoration,
The Bridge at 211,211 Bridge Street,Salem
Dear Mr. Devine:
Enclosed herewith are an original and seven(7)sets of the following related to the above-captioned
matter:
• Narrative regarding proposed window restoration;
• Scope of Work prepared by Robert D. Farley,AIA;
• Plan entitled,"The Bridge at 211,Window Restoration, Phase I, 211 Bridge Street,Salem, Massachusetts,"
dated 2-26-2018;and
• Supporting Photographs.
This project was recently granted CPA funds and the Board of Directors of The Bridge at 211 respectfully
requests an opportunity to briefly review this project with the Salem Redevelopment Authority at its meeting on
January 9, 2019. The project architect, Robert Farley,and I will be in attendance to update the Board and answer
any questions they may have.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any further information or clarification.
Very ruly yours,
I
Dale E.Yale,Co-Chair
Board of Directors i
Enclosures: As noted
THE BRIDGE AT 211
WINDOW PROJECT
BACKGROUND:
The Bridge at 211 is the former First Universalist Society of Salem. First Universalist merged with the
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Beverly in 2015 because their numbers were shrinking and it
became less and less financially feasible for them to continue in the Bridge Street building. However,
since the church's biggest asset was its historic building,the congregation decided to transform and
repurpose the building to serve the Salem community as a new nonprofit corporation. This new
nonprofit,the 211 Bridge Street Corporation, d/b/a The Bridge at 211, which proposes to continue the
church's traditions of promoting social justice and cultural enrichment while continuing to honor its rich
history, took title to the building in 2016--the first transfer of ownership of the building in 200 years.
The cornerstone to the Meetinghouse portion of the building, which was designed and built by William
Perley Putnam,who also built the Custom House,was laid in 1808 following the official founding of the
church on Christmas Eve in 1805. The Bolles Wing was built in 1898 to house the rapidly-growing
Sunday School program. Interestingly,when the cornerstone to the Meetinghouse was to be laid, it had
to be scheduled at low tide as the tidal North River came right up to the rear edge of the building at high
tide.
The building is a fine example of classic Federal architecture.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Historical Commission Inventory of Historic Properties. The Bridge building and the
neighboring Bessie Monroe house at the top of Ash Street were among the few survivors of a large-scale
urban renewal project that took place in Salem in the late 1960's and early 1970's. As you are aware,
the Salem Redevelopment Authority has held a facade easement on the building since 1979.
The goal of the Board of Directors of The Bridge at 211 mirrors the goals set forth in the Salem Historic
Preservation Plan which was updated in 2015 in that"Salem's heritage tourism efforts rely upon the
integration of the City's artistic, cultural and historic assets." Beyond the 211 Bridge Street building's
relevance to Salem's history and architecture,The Bridge at 211 serves as a venue for artistic,cultural,
and social justice groups and it is the Board's goal to expand upon these uses. The Bridge at 211 has
been home to the Neverland Theatre Company for the last two years and has also partnered with the
Salem Arts Association who have located their gallery in the building for the last two years. The Salem
Academy Charter School has held theatre performances in our space; The Bridge has hosted the Salem
Awards Foundation's annual Salem Award Presentation; and The Bridge is home for SalemRecycle's
Repair Cafe,the Salem Scottish Dancers; the Salem Food Pantry; and three Anonymous Groups. The
Bridge served as Tour Headquarters for Historic Salem Incorporated's"Christmas in Salem" House Tour
event in 2017 and, for the fourth year in a row, has partnered with the Salem Common Neighborhood
Association for a Christmas Concert featuring the Merrimack Valley Concert Band. The Board of
Directors is intent on continuing to enhance and develop these relationships to the benefit of the entire
community and is working on updating and refining their programming to provide a unique niche in the
variety of offerings in Salem.
Consistent with the City's Preservation Plan Update, it is The Bridge's aim to continue their relationships
with various arts and community groups while developing their own programming for the community as
well. We believe It is critical to preserve and appropriately upgrade the building in order to continue
and expand these relationships and maintain and enhance our mission of social justice, all while
continuing to honor the building's rich history and its iconic presence in the Salem community.
CURRENT PROJECT:
The Bridge at 211 is pleased to report a total grant of$67,647.97 in CPA funds in two separate awards
($42,647.97 and $25,000) in order to restore windows in the 1898 Annex of The Bridge building. In
consultation with our architect, Robert D. Farley and our contractor Window Women of New England,
we propose to begin Phase I of the window restoration project on April 1. Phase I will consist of the
restoration of 19 windows in the 1898 Wing. The Bridge at 211 considers this project as Phase I of a
plan to eventually address all of the windows in building.
In accordance with the recommendations of our architect, Robert Farley,these windows have been
chosen first as most are functionally inoperable, are thermally insufficient, are seriously deteriorated,
and present a compromise to the weather envelope. In our eyes they are deemed as the most critical as
it is the Board's belief that these windows have never been replaced since the Wing was constructed in
1898 and the only change was the addition of aluminum storms. It is our intention to replace these
windows without changing any visual or historic integrity of the building. All work is proposed to be in
accordance with your standards as well as those of the Historical Commission and the Department of
the Interior.
FUTURE PHASES:
Future phases of the window project will include restoration of the windows on the upper level of the
Bolles Wing; attention to a stained glass window in the Wing and restoration of all of the windows in the
1808 Meetinghouse portion of the building. And, of course,we will be continuing to address important
historic aspects of the building including replacement of the Tower urns and balustrade and attention to
our roof and exterior structure. We are consulting with several professionals in order to develop a
comprehensive construction and fundraising plan including the pursuit of several grants and funding
sources.
211 Bridge Street(Assessors' Map 35, Lot 0194) is located in the B-5 (Central Development Business)
Zoning District, and thus the uses of the building are allowed under Salem's Zoning Ordinance.
However, because the building and the lot are located within the Downtown Urban Renewal District and
the City of Salem Entrance Corridor Overlay District, any exterior work is subject to your review.
Additionally, both the Salem Redevelopment Authority and the Historical Commission have jurisdiction
over any exterior improvements to the building by virtue of the preservation easement held by the SRA
and a soon-to-be-executed preservation restriction between The Bridge and the Historical Commission.
The Bridge at 211 is keenly aware of its responsibility to preserve and maintain this historic building and
appreciates the input,support and advice of the Redevelopment Authority during this process.
ROBERT D. FARLEY ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
89 Turnpike Road, Suite 208, Ipswich, MA 01938, Tel. 978- 3S6 2183
bobfarleyassoc@gmail.com
December 8, 2018
The Bridge at 211
211 Bridge Street
Salem, MA 01970
Att: Dale Yale, Co-Chair, Board of Directors
Dear Dale,
Please be advised of the following Scope of Work for the forthcoming window
replacement project, construction phase at the Bridge church.
1. Exterior Work:
a. Remove storm sash.
b. Remove head and jamb trim.
c. Install new head and jamb trim.
d. Install new perimeter sealant.
e. Paint new exterior trim and existing wood sill, one prime and two finish
coats of acrylic latex paint.
f. Reinstall existing storm windows.
2. Interior Work:
a. Remove all double hung sash.
b. Remove all parting beads.
c. Ship all sash to "Window Women"repair shop,Amesbury, Ma.
d. Remove all glazing putty and glass. Replace broken/cracked panes with
like glass.
e. Remove all existing paint from interior and exterior surfaces of sash.
f. Reinstall all glass and re-putty.
g. Repair weak joints and any dry rot.
h. Prime and re-paint interior and exterior of all sash, one prime and two
finish coats of acrylic latex paint.
i. Replace parting stops and bronze weather stripping.
j. Replace all sash ropes with metal chain cords.
k. Re-install all double hung sash in existing wood frames.
1. Clean and polish hardware and glass.
m. Test operation of all double hung sash and adjust as necessary for smooth
and ease of opening and closing,tight to weather.
-2-
3. All work will be supervised by the Architect both in the repair shop and at the
building site.A final inspection will be made after the contractor submits a
notice of completion and ready for final inspection by the architect.
4. All windows will be inspected for compliance with the plans and specifications
as well as ease of operation.
S. Errors and omissions will be recorded on a punch list and submitted to the
contractor.
6. When all work is finally complete and approved by the architect the owner
shall make a final payment to the contractor.
7. All work will be warranted for twelve (12) months after final completion.The
Operation of all windows will be reviewed at that time: Any
adjustments/repairs will be made at that time by the contractor at no cost to
the owner.
Very truly yours,
Robert D. Farley,Architect
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Salem
Redevelopment
Authority
February 19,2019
Brona Simon
State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston,Massachusetts 02125
RE: The Bridge at 211, Salem,MA--MPPF Application
Dear Ms. Simon:
I am writing to urge the Massachusetts Historical Commission to appre.ve The Bridge at 21 I's 2019 grant
application to support the preservation,repair,and restoration of the former First Universalist Church building
at 211 Bridge Street in Salem.
This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Massachusetts Historical
Commission's Inventory of Historic Properties.It is located on an important Entrance Corridor to the city and
is within Salem's Downtown Renewal District.The building has been described as"one of the most
outstanding Federal-era ecclesiastical structures surviving in Eastern Massachusetts."Upon the merger of the
congregation with the First Parish Unitarian Church in Beverly,title to the property was transferred to a new
non-profit corporation doing business as The Bridge at 211.
The Bridge at 211 has conducted a preliminary review of the building's architecture. The preliminary review
calls for window repairs,brick repointing,brownstone repair or replacement,granite step resetting,
accessibility upgrades, as well as reconstruction of several character-defining exterior and site elements that
have been lost over the years. In order to fully comprehend the scope of this ambitious rehabilitation effort,
funding is needed to conduct an additional review of the building,its systems and architecture to create a
Master Plan that will prioritize the architectural repairs needed.
Recently,the organization presented its plan for window restoration in the 1889 wing of the structure to the
Salem Redevelopment Authority(SRA). This piece of the restoration effort will be funded,in part,through
Community Preservation funds and represents the first step in restoring the building.However,this is only the
first step toward restoring the church to its former architectural beauty.
As a stakeholder to this project,given the fagade easement the SRA holds,we are in full support of the
restoration efforts The Bridge at 211 has already begun and its plans for future restoration work.Please
support The Bridge at 211's MPPF grant application to create a Historic Structures Report and Restoration
Plan that will serve to guide the organization in its restoration efforts of this culturally and historically
significant building.
I encourage your support for this application and appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
' mka� L
Tom Daniel,AICP
Executive Director
98 Washington Street r Salem, Massachusetts 01970 . (978) 619-5685