At its monthly public hearing on July 21, which was held virtually, the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission unanimously approved Historic New England’s application for the installation of a mailbox at the exterior of its headquarters, the Otis House Museum at 141 Cambridge St.
The motion put forward by Commissioner Alice Richmond specifies that the first of two options for the mailbox shown to staff is used and that it is installed on top of a simple wooden post, which would be stained a dark color in consultation with staff (Nick Armata). Chairman Mark Kiefer, Historic New England’s representative on the commission, and commissioner Edward Fleck recused themselves from the case, with commissioner Arian Allen serving as chairman of the commission solely for this bid.
Cambridge St.
In addition, the commission unanimously accepted a motion from Commissioner Kiefer to dismiss a permanent violation and to approve as submitted a request to relocate two condensers on the roof of 21 Branch St., provided that any fencing around condensers is not visible. from a public road. (The plaintiff, Timothy Burke, said earlier that he would consider Commissioner Kiefer’s request to install a fence around the back of the condensers in an effort to lessen their sonic impact.)
In another matter, the commission approved as submitted an application for the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro at 25 Charles Street, which had already been considered at the May 19 hearing, for the installation of a new decal of window. A subcommittee consisting of Chairman Kiefer, along with Commissioners Fleck and Ralph Jackson, had reviewed a mock-up of the window sticker and given its recommendation to approve the application to the committee.
Brett Bentson, the architect of the project, said the future restaurant at this location still has no name and no opening date has yet been set. “We’re excited to open it up to the community,” he added.
Similarly, the commission unanimously accepted a motion to approve a request for 44 Phillips Street, which had already been considered at the June 16 hearing, to rebuild the transom, as well as to rebuild the garden level openings. The accepted motion came with a condition that the 12-light window option, instead of the six-light option, be used for the transom.
The commission also unanimously approved a request submitted to 81 Pinckney St. to install deck rails at the rear of the property. The new railing would be 42 inches above the height of the decking – a reduction of 6 inches in height from what previously existed, according to the applicant.
In addition, the commission unanimously approved as submitted an application for 71 Mount Vernon Street, with proposed works including replacement of existing vinyl and wood windows with similar windows on the front façade; identical reconstruction of the rear roof terrace on the third floor; rebuild the rear side of the gable roof for a new roof deck and elevator overhang; rebuild the fifth-floor facade to be “coplanar” with the face of the wall below and replace the “mismatched” brick veneer with slate tiles; and rebuild the roof of the existing balcony on the front bay in kind.
The accepted motion made by President Kiefer for this request had several conditions, including that no part of the front roof plan on the front facade be removed, demolished, or rebuilt; and that a French door design, with five lights on each side, is used on the Juliet balcony on the upper floor of the front facade pending prior approval from staff, among other stipulations.
With respect to 7 Louisburg Square, the commission unanimously approved as submitted a request for the replacement of the front dormers and rear elbow windows/Juliet balconies, as well as the extension of a window at the rear corner. Chairman Kiefer stated that the accepted motion, which he presented, related “in particular to the modifications to the rear corner fenestration”, while Commissioner Richmond specifically thanked the applicant for the work he has done. carried out on the facade of the building. “I really think it’s very special and, for my part, I appreciate the effort you’ve made,” Commissioner Richmond said.
A request at 114 Mount Vernon St. to remove the existing unapproved sconces and replace them with pendant lights was on the agenda but was ultimately not heard due to the plaintiff’s failure to attend. hearing.
Meanwhile, the commission heard an advisory review for 86 Chestnut St., with proposed work including replacing a two-door configuration with a custom-paneled single door with sidelights and a fan light.
President Kiefer, who said the building had housed an antique store for many years before the previous owner subdivided it into apartments, informed the potential candidate that the commission would need evidence of a single-storey layout. only door previously at this location.
“Unusual features are often as important to a neighborhood as ones that all look alike, and I think what you’re suggesting here is to make it look alike,” said Chairman Kiefer. “You would need to make an argument to convince us that it would be appropriate.” Present at the hearing were Chairman Kiefer, as well as Commissioners Allen, Fleck and Jackson, while Commissioner Richmond was not present for the first two applications (21 Branch St. and 25 Charles St., respectively) and s is attached for the third. app (44 Phillips St.).
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