HPC Clears Five Applications Including Partial Demolition on Ridgewood Avenue

The Historic Preservation Commission approved five applications unanimously at its July meeting. A 16-by-23-foot family room addition at 483 Ridgewood Avenue for Luigi and Bernadette Bassani was approved with a note added requiring the original side facade to be resurfaced. A one-story rear addition squaring off the back of the house and expanding the kitchen at 345 Maolis Avenue for Soni Kon and Daniel DiBernardo was approved on condition the applicant explore alternatives to Hardy Plank siding, such as GAF's Weatherside, with any Hardy sample subject to administrative review. A rear pergola replacing the railing on an existing deck at 4 Appleton Road for Lisa Deti was approved contingent on revised drawings showing trellis materials, gutter and leader relocation, ledger board details, and existing windows, doors and fixtures. A garage demolition at 172 Bay Avenue for Carl Sanberg was also approved as submitted.

The most complex item involved 480/482 Ridgewood Avenue, where Sabrina and Aaron Kramer sought to demolish a non-contributing structure at 482 Ridgewood and add onto the existing home at 480 Ridgewood. The commission found the proposed addition read as a separate secondary structure rather than an integrated one and pushed for it to connect more seamlessly to the main house; the applicant withdrew the addition portion of the application. The demolition request was then approved, but explicitly contingent on the commission first approving a compatible replacement structure -- meaning the demolition cannot proceed until a new addition design clears review.

Approval of the June 2025 minutes was tabled over requested wording changes to the 90 Ridgewood Avenue retaining-wall approval and minor spelling corrections. Subcommittee approval was reported for 32 Hathway Place, while 92 Hawthorne Avenue, 39 Woodland Avenue and 90 Ridgewood Avenue retaining-wall matters remain under subcommittee review. Consultant Smolyn is following up on code-violation matters at 330 Ridgewood Avenue (pergola and deck built without a permit), 404 Ridgewood Avenue (unauthorized column removal) and 259 Richmond Avenue (compliance with previously agreed modifications).

What to watch

• The Kramers must secure approval of a redesigned, better-integrated addition at 480 Ridgewood Avenue before demolition of 482 Ridgewood can proceed.
• June 2025 minutes were tabled pending wording corrections and will need re-approval.
• 92 Hawthorne Avenue, 39 Woodland Avenue and 90 Ridgewood Avenue retaining-wall items remain under subcommittee review.
• Violation follow-ups are pending at 330 Ridgewood Avenue, 404 Ridgewood Avenue and 259 Richmond Avenue.