Boston Landmarks Commission Public Hearing

I. DESIGN REVIEW HEARING 5:00 PM 

23.0865 BLC – JACOB WIRTH BUILDINGS, 31-39 STUART STREET, BOSTON

Applicant: Jacob Simmons and Albert Rex

Proposed work: Replace wooden windows and shutters. See BLC application link for window and shutter specifications. Repointing and repairs to brickwork where necessary.  Interior restaurant restoration and exterior repair work at 1st story was previously approved by the BLC.  

II. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW/APPROVAL: In order to expedite the review process, the commission has delegated the approval of certain work items, such as those involving ordinary maintenance and repair, restoration or replacement, or which otherwise have a minimal impact on a building’s appearance, to commission staff pending ratification at its monthly public hearing. Having been identified as meeting these eligibility criteria and all applicable guidelines, the following applications will be approved at this hearing:

► Applicants whose projects are listed under this heading NEED NOT APPEAR at the hearing. Following the hearing, you will be issued a Determination Sheet to present at the Inspectional Services Department (1010 Massachusetts Avenue) as proof of project approval when applying for permits. ISD personnel will send an electronic copy of your building-permit application to the commission staff for review. (To avoid potential confusion, the text of your building-permit application should be consistent with the project description given below.) Commission staff will accordingly authorize the execution of the work, attaching any applicable provisos, reflecting the relevant guidelines and precedents. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF THE DETERMINATION SHEET NO FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ISSUED for the applications listed below. The electronic building-permit application as annotated by commission staff will constitute your Certificate of Appropriateness; this will be valid for two years from the date of the hearing. The applicant is required to notify the commission of any project changes; failure to do so may affect the status of the approval.  If you have any questions not addressed by the above information, please contact staff at 617-635-1935 or BLC@boston.gov. Thank you. 

23.0832 BLC - 1 FANEUIL HALL SQUARE , BOSTON

Applicant: Joseph Bagley

PROPOSED WORK:  Install an exhibit on Boston Slavery on the first (market) floor, second floor room 203, and basement of Faneuil Hall. BLC application link

23.08 BLC - LORING GREENOUGH HOUSE - 12 SOUTH STREET, JAMAICA PLAIN

APPLICANT: Andrew Hatcher

PROPOSED WORK:  Damaged non-original and non-replication wallpaper being replaced with period appropriate paper in the “bride’s” bedroom. BLC application link

23.0829 BLC - BLACKSTONE BLOCK STREET NETWORK, 1 UNION STREET, BOSTON

APPLICANT: Cheryl Yannaco

PROPOSED WORK:  Recovering an awning; fabric for Santander Bank using same existing frame and fabric color, new fabric material. Remove awning from building and reinstall in the same area a few days later. BLC application link

23.0419 BLC - 84 COMMERCIAL WHARF, BOSTON

APPLICANT: John Spagnoti                                

PROPOSED WORK:  Replace wooden storefront paneling at facade and south corner in-kind. BLC application link

23.0860 BLC - BUILD A BEAR SIGNAGE, 6 NORTH MARKET SQUARE, BOSTON

APPLICANT: Matthew Honan

PROPOSED WORK: Quincy Market - Installation of exterior Belt Sign, supplied by ICS Sign Company BLC application link

III. BUSINESS HEARING 6:00 PM 

1. DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATIONS & ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL APPLICATIONS

DISCUSSION AND VOTE:

The Design Review Committee will present summaries of applications and make recommendations for a vote on each agenda item discussed at the Design Review Hearing, which met earlier. Administrative approvals shall also be read into the record and voted upon. 

2. SUBCOMMITTEE WORK 

STUDY REPORT SUBCOMMITTEE

The Study Report Subcommittee met to review feedback on the Parker House Study Report on April 20th. Members of the subcommittee can offer a recap of that meeting. 

UPDATE ON 12R PLAIN STREET VIOLATION

Staff will update commissioners on the status of this Article 85 violation which involved the voluntary demolition of a significant historic carriage house.

3. ADVISORY REVIEW - BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN TOOL SHED RESTORATION & ADDITION

Utile Design, Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture, the Boston Parks Department, the Friends of the Public Garden have been working on the design for the restoration of the tool shed building and an addition together with BLC staff. They are here to present their plans for the tool shed area and hear the commissioners’ advisory feedback before presenting an application. 

The goals of this project are to address the critical repairs to the existing Tool House building located in the Boston Public Garden, as well as providing a small new maintenance building facility that will support the needs of the Public Garden, improve the interior space for the Parks Department and Swan Boats teams and maintain storage for the Rose and Border Brigades and Friends of the Public Garden. The proposed project will include: exterior repairs and interior alterations to the existing Tool House, a ~600sf one story new building facility to be located roughly within the existing parking/fenced area in order to maintain and protect the existing trees, and rerouting of pathways leading to the Tool House.

4. HEARING MINUTES  

Review and ratification of Public Hearing Minutes from 03/28/23.

5. STAFF UPDATES

05/09/23 at 6pm - NEXT BLC HEARING

PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT:  7:30PM