Staff MEMORANDUM - 148 Derby Street sign
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
MAYOR
TOM DANIEL, AICP
DIRECTOR
CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
120 WASHINGTON STREET ♦ SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970
TELE: 978-619-5685 ♦ FAX: 978-740-0404
STAFF MEMORANDUM
TO: Salem Historical Commission
From: Patti Kelleher
Date: December 18, 2017
RE: 275 Lafayette Street – Request for Certificate of Appropriateness
Property Addresses: 148 Derby Street
Historic Names: Dubetsky Grocery Store
Dates Constructed: 1916
Architectural Styles: Classical Vernacular
The new Mercy Tavern is located in the former Pig’s Eye restaurant space in the single-story brick Classical Vernacular building at
#148 Derby Street. This brick storefront was built in 1916 as an addition to the wood-frame house at 142 Derby Street. The brick
storefront was originally used as a grocery store. This entire property (#142-148) has been restored since the original inventory
form was completed in 1973. The new owners of #148 recently removed window awnings and painted wood trim in a new color
scheme.
Proposal:
▪ Install new PVC blade sign on existing bracket and install new free-standing letters on brick band between corbelled
cornice and entrance door.
Staff Memo to Historical Commission – March 7, 2017
148 Derby Street
Page 2
-2-
Staff Comments:
The applicant is seeking to install 2 new signs:
Sign 1 – Applicant proposes to replace an existing wood blade sign (In a Pig’s Eye) with a new blade sign (Mercy Tavern) in PVC.
New sign will hang from existing metal bracket.
SIZE: The new sign as proposed (3’x4’ or 36” x 48”) would be slightly smaller than the existing sign (4’x5’ or 48” x 60”). However,
the applicant has asked the Commission to consider approving a new 4’x5’ sign if it meets the City’s sign ordinance. According to
the staff planner who reviews sign proposals, the City’s sign ordinance prohibits blade signs that are larger than 25 square feet.
Therefore, at 20 square feet, the applicant’s request for a larger sign would meet the sign ordinance.
MATERIALS: The Historical Commission’s Design Guidelines does not discuss signs. The City’s Commercial Design Guidelines
offers guidance for signs in historic districts. The Commercial Design Guidelines recommends that signs be “Carved wooden si gns
with neutral or dark backgrounds and bright lettering.”
LIGHTING: Sign will be lit by existing light on roof.
Sign 1: Mock-up of proposed new sign
Sign 2: Proposed design, color and location of new lettering
Sign 2 - The Applicant is also proposing to install free-standing aluminum letters on the brick cornice band above the building’s
corner entrance. These letters will be 12” high with a total width of 42” and will be either gold or silver. The sign will be lit by an
existing light on roof.
Staff Memo to Historical Commission – March 7, 2017
148 Derby Street
Page 3
-3-
According to property files, the approved sign at 142 Derby Street (Derby Joe) is constructed of PVC aluminum. This sign was
approved by the Commission in 2015. It appears that the sign at 140 Derby Street (The Purple Scorpion) may also be aluminum
or vinyl although there is no specification of material in the Certificate approved by the Commission in 1997. Both signs are
smaller (Derby Joe: 27” x 30” and Purple Scorpion: 30” x 36”) than the existing “In a Pig’s Eye” sign at #148. However, Derby Joe
does have additional signage in the storefront windows and above the entrance door.
Signs at #148, #142 and #140 Derby Street