Yewaisis elected HPC chair as commission approves five renovation projects, sends 26 Ridgewood Avenue plan back again

The Historic Preservation Commission opened its 2026 term by electing Christine Yewaisis as Chair, Joaquin Stearns as Vice Chair, and Steven Smolyn and Alexei Tajzler as Secretary, all unanimously.

Owner Luisa Lebron's proposal for a full second-floor addition to a 1950s ranch house at 26 Ridgewood Avenue drew strong concerns from commissioners about its boxy appearance and effect on the streetscape, given the house's wide footprint; commissioners pointed to 325 Ridgewood Avenue as a better model and suggested dormers instead. The applicant withdrew the application without a vote.

Five other projects were approved, each sent to subcommittee or administrative review for design follow-up: a rear garage addition at 63 Hawthorne; a rear addition at 79 Forest Avenue; demolition of a deck and construction of a rear addition at 36 Prescott Avenue; a rear addition at 174 Bay Avenue, where the commission required the applicant to replace proposed aluminum siding -- which guidelines prohibit on historic buildings -- with wood pending consultation with the Historical Society on the home's original siding; and a second-floor rear addition at 29 Appleton Road, requiring new windows to match the existing house. The board also adopted its 2026 meeting schedule and formally adopted its by-laws, both unanimously.

Approval of the December 2025 meeting minutes passed 6-0 with Vice Chair Stearns and Commissioner Barkin abstaining, pending correction of minor typos. Separately, the subcommittee approved a garage facade repair at 66 Highland Avenue and a rear addition at 37 Douglas Road, and administrative approval was given to window replacements at 22 Hawthorne Avenue and 46 Ridgewood Avenue.

What to watch

• The commission plans to organize a training session on recently changed historic preservation ordinance rules.