HPC Reorganizes for 2023, Denies Hawthorne Avenue Window Swap, Approves Oakwood Avenue Dormers With Conditions

At its January 4, 2023 annual reorganization meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously re-elected Geoffrey Darby as chair, Christine Yewaisis as vice chair, and consultant Margaret Hickey as secretary. Members also adopted bylaw amendments requiring applicants to submit digital applications at least 20 days before a meeting, and adopted the 2023 meeting schedule with a new 7:00 p.m. start time.

Turning to applications, the commission unanimously denied a request from Ralph Davis and Elizabeth Fogerty at 80 Hawthorne Avenue to swap two previously approved front windows to vinyl so they would match older vinyl windows already installed elsewhere on the house. The chair suggested an alternative -- adding mullions to the existing vinyl sashes instead -- but the commission voted to deny the application as submitted rather than approve the vinyl swap.

At 26 Burnett Street, Kevin Brennan's application for a two-story rear addition with a deck and pergola was approved with conditions requiring a foundation expansion joint and a redesigned or eliminated pergola; Vice Chair Yewaisis recused herself from that vote. At 12 Oakwood Avenue, Janene Bleasdell and Eduardo Torres won approval for a rear addition and two new front-facing roof dormers, conditioned on reducing the dormers' visual impact on the home's distinctive jerkin-head roofline -- but Vice Chair Yewaisis abstained, having argued the dormers made the roof look top-heavy and would harm that distinctive roofline.

Other approvals were unanimous: Peter and Michelle Stopp's stoop and paving work at 5 Sherman Avenue (approved in two parts, with the commission rejecting proposed cast-stone pavers in favor of matching existing brick and bluestone treads), a second-story addition at 90 Baldwin Street for Anna and Matt Doyle (conditioned on switching to a shed roof), and dormer and stoop renovations at 40 Windsor Place for Drew Skinner and Rachel Bryan.

What to watch

• The commission is polling members for availability to hold a public hearing on ordinance changes in late January or early February 2023.