Church Street, 32-Window and Gable ModificationsEAST INDIA GROUPTHIRD FLOOR OFFICE RENOVATION32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MASSACHUSETTS | 01907HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBMITTALMAY 20, 2020GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGESEXISTING THIRD FLOOR1215 SQ. FT.PROPOSED THIRD FLOOR1215 SQ. FT.*NO CHANGE IN SQUARE FOOTAGE OR USEDRAWING LISTA1 THIRD FLOOR PLANA3 SIDE ELEVATIONA4 REAR ELEVATIONA6 PROPOSED MATERIALS & COLORSEX1 EXISTING PHOTOGRAPHSEX2 EXISTING PHOTOGRAPHSSP EXISTING SITE PLANA2 FRONT ELEVATIONA5 SIDE ELEVATIONMAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURAL1/8" = 1'-0"A0SCHEMATIC DESIGN DRAWINGS
EXISTING PHOTOSEX1EXISTINGMAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURALN.T.S.2FRONT ELEVATIONN.T.S.1VIEW DOWN CHURCH STREETN.T.S.
EXISTING PHOTOSEX2EXISTINGMAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURALN.T.S.1VIEW FROM BANKN.T.S.2REAR ELEVATIONN.T.S.
49'-6"25'-0"
1'-6"1'-6"
14'-6"MAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURAL1/8" = 1'-0"PROPOSED PLANA1PROPOSED
1EXISTING REAR ELEVATION1/8" = 1'-0"2PROPOSED REAR ELEVATION1/8" = 1'-0"REPLACE EXISTING SKYLIGHTNEW VELUX SKYLIGHTNEW ROOF HATCHEXISTING SKYLIGHTEXISTING SKYLIGHTSEXISTING ABUTTINGBUILDING AT 65WASHINGTON STREETNEW BUILDING AT 65WASHINGTON STREETMAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURAL1/8" = 1'-0"ELEVATIONSA4PROPOSED
1EXISTING SIDE ELEVATION1/8" = 1'-0"2PROPOSED SIDE ELEVATION1/8" = 1'-0"NEW BUILDING AT 65WASHINGTON STREETEXISTING ABUTTINGBUILDING AT 65WASHINGTON STREETMAY 14, 2020DWG ISSUED:SCALE:32 CHURCH STREETSALEM, MA 01907EAST INDIA GROUP, LLCARCHITECTURAL1/8" = 1'-0"ELEVATIONSA5PROPOSED
Salem Historical Commission
98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970
(978) 619-5685
May 14, 2020
Grace Harrington, Chair
Salem Redevelopment Authority
98 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
RE: Proposed renovations to 32 Church Street
Dear Ms. Harrington:
At its last meeting on May 6th, the Salem Historical Commission reviewed the plans to alter the roofline of the historic
Salem Old Water Department building (SAL.2434) at 32 Church Street. This building was constructed in 1879 in the
Italianate style and was remodeled in 1975 (see attached inventory form). The building operated as the Salem Water
Works into the late 1930s; by 1945 it housed City offices including the Civil Defense headquarters, Fire Department
headquarters, Licensing Board and Veterans Service. Today, this well-preserved two story hipped-roof building features
distinctive masonry details including a corbelled brick cornice, second floor pilasters, arched window lintels and
rusticated stone sills. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Downtown Salem
Historic District.
The Commission believes that the proposed new dormer on the east roof slope would impact the historic intergrity of
the building and offers the following preliminary suggestions:
▪ Reduce width of new dormer and align dormer windows over windows on main building below;
▪ Alter window design to include three vertically-oriented rectangular windows instead of the current proposal
for two rectangular windows flanking a square window; and
▪ Change the dorner roofline to a shed roof instead of the proposed “Nantucket Style” roofline with two end
gables.
The Commission encourages the applicant to attend the next Historical Commission meeting on May 20th to discuss the
proposed changes before the proposal will be reviewed at the Design Review Board meeting on May 27th. The
Commission looks forward to working with the applicant and the Salem Redevelopment Authority on preserving this
important historic building in downtown Salem.
Sincerely,
Laurence Spang, AIA
Chair
Design Review Board Recommendation
32 Church Street
Small Project Review – Addition of Skylights and Dormer
Meeting Date: May 27, 2020
Members Present: Paul Durand, Chair, David Jaquith, Catherine Miller, Marc Perras, Helen Sides,
Members Absent: Glenn Kennedy, J. Michael Sullivan
Decision: At a regular meeting of the Design Review Board (DRB), upon a motion duly made and
seconded, it was unanimously voted to recommend approval of the proposed skylight additions and
dormer as designed and conditioned herein.
Referenced Plans and Documents
1. Plan Set titled ‘East India Group Third Floor Office Renovation’, prepared by Pitman & Wardley
Associates, LLC, 32 Church Street, Salem, MA 01970, dated 5/14/20.
2. Salem Historical Commission comments dated 5/14/20.
3. Staff Comments dated 5/27/20.
Condition of Approval: The DRB recommends incorporating the following condition:
1. Consistency with Approved Design/Plans: Should the applicant determine that the project may
not be completed as presented and conditioned herein, he/she/they shall return to the DRB to
review proposed modifications prior to making any changes in the field.
Findings
1. Consistency with Design Standards and Guidelines: This project is consistent with the design
guidelines and standards.
2. Sensitivity to Historic Structure: The applicant modified the original design of the dormer in
accordance with the Salem Historical Commission’s comments, resulting in a more historically
sensitive and appropriate dormer addition.
3. Character of the Structure: The addition of the skylights and dormer do not detract from the
historic character of the building.
Signature of the DRB: By the signature below, I certify that this recommendation accurately reflects the
actions of the Design Review Board.
_______________________________________ _________
Paul Durand Date
Chair
May 29, 2020