HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210406 - Historical Commission - Meeting Minutes1
Hopkinton Historical Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 6, 2021 7:00 PM
Attending: Nancy Stevenson, Michael Roughan, Stacy Spies, Nanda Barker-Hook, John Pavlov, Kevin
McCaffrey, Beth Watson, Eric Sonnett
Absent: James Haskins, Kevin McCaffrey
Also attending: Laval Sans, and Steve Kamin
83 EAST MAIN STREET
Mike: Roy is trying to sell the 83 East Main property. Mike had told Roy that we would consider his plans
for a new build to replace in kind (new replica). Then he put the property on the market. Now there
is a potential buyer who would like to build a barn on the property for event rental. The buyer is the
owner of Refined Rentals.
Nanda: provided background about the buyer. Event Rental company, Refined Rentals, LLC. They rent
high end furniture and other accessories for weddings and events. They are interested in building a
barn on the property to rent for events. So it seems that they want to expand their businesses. Their
email that was sent to Mike acknowledged that they understand the historic house is part of the
sale.
John Pavlov: To restore the house would be a tremendous undertaking. He believes that Roy would
replace it in kind. Roy doesn’t want to preserve the current historic house.
Mike: I agree with what you say, John. Commission read the letter from the potential buyer together.
Stacy: We need to ask for their plans. Can we informally tell them that we need more info. We can’t
really do anything until a formal proposal is submitted.
Mike: Agrees with Stacy. He sent the bylaw to potential purchaser. We are supportive of the
idea. They would need significant amount of parking for event rentals.
Eric: Mike, do you want to reach out to the potential buyer and suggest they submit something?
Mike: Welcomed new joiners to the meeting and asked if they are interested in specific agenda
item. One said he’s interested in Lumber Street property. The other said general interest in HHC.
CENTER SCHOOL WINDOWS REPORT
Mike: Report is comprehensive. Offers several options
Restorable wood
Aluminum storm windows might need replacing if windows need to be operable
Stacy: Did this come before HHDC?
Beth: It is on the agenda for Thursday. Will forward all to us.
Reuse group needs to decide what they want to do with building first.
Eric: The study cost 10k. Most comprehensive study I have ever seen. Took initial estimate of 800k and
made it 300k.
148 LUMBER STREET
Mike: Eric is reporting on this.
Eric: First thing-a good friend of mine is now a condo owner. I called him. Having board elections right
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now. My friend commented that once this issue stabilizes, I think they want the property to be nice.
If I can convince them that they are our only option, maybe we can make this work.
Mike: I would advocate the HHC sponsor CPC funds to restore house to be an advantage to Deerfield
Estates.
John: For an events center or what?
Mike: There are two attractive open rooms. Couldn’t be large gathering space. I have given up hope that
we have another option.
Mike: Nancy has gone to great lengths to find a solution to sewer and water.
Nancy explained that Joe Marquedant gave us two possible options. One was to approach Deerfield
Estates about fully hooking into their water/sewer. The second was one that he recommended. This
was to try to find a way to put sewer in and get water in on opposite part of the parcel. I have
reached out to Jo and he expressed interest in looking further into this, but I haven’t been able to get
him to respond further. I think we should try once more with him, or perhaps someone else. This
seems like the best solution if it can work.
Mike: I want to engage in dialog with Deerfield Estates. I’m willing to propose asking CPC for funds. It is a
town asset. In other towns, there is varying interest in what is considered in the public’s interest.
Eric: I think we should pursue Deerfield Estates.
Mike: My recollection of the report is that Joe indicates the owner would be beholden to Deerfield
Estates.
Mike: Ken Weismantel (CPC) intends to sunset this house in June.
Eric: I suggest we allow Nancy to explore the possibility of water and swear on lot. Not spend more than
$7500 without permission.
Mike: These are CPC funds that we have allocated.
Nanda: We should go back to Joe about the sewer/water.
Eric: We need Deerfield Estates because we don’t have another choice. Need to have a dialog.
Mike: I reported to CPC that we will give up funds if we didn’t have resolution.
Eric: I motion that we empower Nancy to commission a final resolution as to whether the lot is viable on
its own, without Deerfield Estates and that she can spend up to $7500.
Mike: Second
John: yes
Nanda: yes
Stacy: yes
Eric: yes
Beth: yes
Nancy: yes
Mike: yes
John: I will find out how much is left in the account.
Eric: Keep in mind that if we give money back it does not mean they won’t reallocate it if we come back
in the future with a plan.
ONGOING PROJECTS:
AIKEN PARK
Mike Waylon has moved granite. Contracted to leave it.
Scott is interested in starting work on trail.
Going to ConCom for an order of condition.
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HCA/TERRY PROPERTY
Mike: explained what Michael DiMascio is doing.
Eric: Interior is not our purview. That is responsibility of CAA.
Exterior ramp is legal thing. This was designed this way to not screw up the front.
Mike: The ramp costs 60k. Where is this cost from?
Michael: From bids. They have an alternate solution. Already a amp that exists in the back.
Stacy: I haven’t gotten reconciliation that that one is not ok.
Mike: MMAB is clear about accessibility. I am of the opinion that a handicapped person should be able
to access a ramp close to parking.
Michael: parking is closest to existing ramp. The new ramp will be 30-40’away. When you have access
isle you have 15-20’ to current ramp. It will be rehabbed.
Mike: The did not show existing ramp.
Michael: MMAB requires every public entrance be accessible. Technically they need an additional ramp
for the kitchen. But based on the size of the building, they need only one egress. Mike Shepard said
MMAB said you have to have a ramp, that is why he requested it. HCA never did want a ramp. Kelly
said the only reason they are doing it is because Mike Shepard said they need it.
I will go to MAAB and then get a time variance. It’s only MMAB that can say alternative compliance
can be provided.
As part of the MMAB process we need a letter from MHC saying this place could be on The National or
State Register of Historic Places. MHC wants a letter from the local historic commission. If you put a
ramp at front corner of this historic structure, it deteriorates look of the historic structure.
Once the connector is put in, there will be full access to second and first floors. currently, there is
alternative compliance of using music rooms in the barn.
Mike: They will have to go to the barn for access to house.
Michael: A ramp or platform lift will be internal in the connector, to be built in 3-5 years.
Eric: We will not pay for another change. Everybody agreed to it. If you delay it, it will not happen.
Michael: The contractor is ready to proceed without the ramp. Bid came in under bid without the ramp.
The cost of the ramp is above bid price.
Mike: (to Michael) You are seeking a letter from MHC so you need a letter from us.
(To the commission) Commission members, please advise me whether the Terry property is national
register material.
Stacy: The 1989 survey doesn’t make that call.
Beth: I don’t think we have enough info to make that call.
Stacy: The survey from 2018 has a new standard. Requires you to make a call as to whether it is eligible.
Mike: Nation register availability is like an historic district.
Stacy: It can be a person, history, etc. that puts it into that category.
Mike: The Terry property has significant history in Hopkinton. Schools are on the land from a few large
farms.
Mike: I just don’t think we should defer the ramp. We got CPC to put money into property because it is
historical.
Stacy: I don’t have enough info. to make a determination in terms of the national level.
Michael: They just want to know if it is historically significant to the town.
Eric: This will stop the process.
Michael: The contractor has agreed to defer ramp.
Michael: MHC is asking for input, not if is it eligible for the National Register.
Mike: Michael could submit our minutes about it.
Michael: MHC is asking for a letter stating whether the Terry House is architecturally significant or
historically significant to town.
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Beth: I motion that Mike write letter stating that the Terry House is historically significant to Hopkinton.
Eric: Including in accordance with town bylaws we hereby confirm the Terry Property is historically
significant and preferably protected and we authorize CPC funding.
John: seconded
Eric: yes
Nancy: yes
Beth: yes
Stacy: yes
Nanda: yes
John: yes
Mike: yes
Unanimous approval.
MARCH MINUTES
Center School windows-8k to 800k
Stacy: Ash Street- a full gut job
Eric: I motion to accept minutes as written with two changes
Nanda seconded
John: yes
Nanda: yes
Stacy: yes
Eric: yes
Nancy: yes
Beth: abstain (wasn’t there)
Mike: yes
Motion passed with 6 yes and one abstention.
John: I make a motion to adjourn
Eric: second
Beth: yes
Nanda: yes
Stacy: yes
John: yes
Eric: yes
Nancy: yes
Mike: yes
Docs used: Letter from potential buyer of 83 East Main Street,
February 2, 2021 minutes