HPC Advances Midland and Hawthorne Avenue Additions, Commissioner Deshan Recuses on Family Project

Meeting virtually, the Historic Preservation Commission approved two rear-addition proposals subject to subcommittee follow-up. At 188 Midland Avenue, David and Alyssa Case's architect presented a two-story addition and rear porch for the 1910 shingle-cottage home, including a new kitchen, mudroom and powder room; the commission's main concern was that the second-floor massing wasn't clearly subordinate to the original house, and it approved the plan 6-0 on the conditions that the second-floor dressing-room wall be moved in 16-18 inches, the roof slope be reconsidered for better proportion, the gutter layout and chimney height be re-examined for code compliance, and lighting-fixture cut sheets be provided.

At 92 Hawthorne Avenue, architect Jonathan Perlstein returned with a revised two-story rear-and-side addition to a Dutch Colonial home after an initial April presentation; the commission found the massing and scale much improved, with the second floor now set back 14 inches, and approved the plan 5-0 on condition that overhangs on all three sides of the addition be tightened to match the existing second-floor overhang. Commissioner Dina Deshan recused herself from that vote, given the applicant's shared surname (Tom Deshan); the remaining five voting members were all in favor.

In subcommittee and enforcement business, a facade change at 34 Appleton Street was approved, while ongoing back-and-forth continued over a covered roof structure connecting to the rear facade at 336 Washington -- consultants Tajzler and Smolyn were directed to reach out directly to resolve missing information. A newly created violation tracker flagged 259 Ridgewood Avenue (homeowner doing unauthorized work himself, to be monitored through the summer), 311 Ridgewood Avenue (agreement reached on terracotta tile for publicly visible roof areas), and 252 Ridgewood Avenue (ordered to remove a front-yard ancillary structure), with 332 Ridgewood Avenue expected on a future agenda. The commission also noted plans to run a booth at the Glen Ridge Arts and Eco Fair, that 244 Ridgewood Avenue will need to appear before the HPC over a proposed retaining-wall demolition, that longtime staffer Debbie Henry is retiring, and that consultant Smolyn is coordinating with Eric DeLine to fold state historic preservation office comments into pending ordinance revisions.

What to watch

• 336 Washington's covered roof structure issue remains unresolved pending direct outreach from HPC consultants.
• 259 Ridgewood Avenue's unauthorized work will be monitored through the summer.
• 332 Ridgewood Avenue is expected to come before the commission on a future agenda.
• 244 Ridgewood Avenue must formally apply before demolishing any portion of its retaining wall.
• Pending historic ordinance revisions are being updated with State Historic Preservation Office feedback.