7 Botts porch - application for porch redesignSalem Historical Commission – Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Alexander Marks and Kimberly Tompkins, 7 Botts Ct
PROJECT: Remove front porch stairs and build new stairs on other side of front porch.
Figure 1: View from Botts Ct (Essex St side)
ISSUE: Existing front porch stairs lead directly into street with poor visibility (one way
street with cars coming from the blind side as shown in the following photo):
Figure 2: Walking directly onto Botts Ct with traffic coming from Chestnut St side.
Salem Historical Commission – Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Alexander Marks and Kimberly Tompkins, 7 Botts Ct
We want to add stairs to the other side of the porch as shown in this photo:
Here is the view from Botts Court when facing front porch
Salem Historical Commission – Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Alexander Marks and Kimberly Tompkins, 7 Botts Ct
The current gate will be moved back to new location (“A” in photo below) so that one
can access the stairs without having to go through a gate:
Salem Historical Commission – Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Alexander Marks and Kimberly Tompkins, 7 Botts Ct
The new stairs will be made of the same type and size of cedar slats used for porch. This
is more appropriate in terms of matching and drainage than the current boards used for
the stairs. The new stairs will have a lower riser by one inch (7” rather than 8”). This is
because the current steps were made a little on the steep side in order to reach the
ground before the street edge. The bottom step will be a concrete slab similar to the
current one.
Once the current stairs are removed, the bottom step slab will be removed as well. We
will keep the space as a garden bed for plantings (probably a bush). Also, the porch will
need to be extended by 2 or 3 cedar slats so that the new railing will line up properly
with the house. This means the corner post that supports the porch will be move an
estimated six inches closer to the street.
A new section of fence will be installed using the same materials as the gate and fence
on side of property (see “B” in photo) – as well as the same height. Where the new
fence meets the house is close to the access panel on the heatpump unit. We will install
a lattice access panel at the same height as the fence that will sit within the fence
framing.
The landing at base of new stairs will be brick.
The new stairs will partially block a window to the basement floor. We will have mason
remove the window (and frame) and use brick to fill in the space. See photo:
Salem Historical Commission – Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Alexander Marks and Kimberly Tompkins, 7 Botts Ct