ARB approves removal of indoor pool and brick repairs at 43 Middlesex

The City of Brentwood Architectural Review Board approved revisions to a house at 43 Middlesex on March 20 that remove an indoor pool from the side of the house, restore brick cladding where vinyl siding had been, relocate a French door from the side elevation to the rear, and add new windows on that end of the house.

Why it matters: The applicant said the indoor pool had caused humidity and rot; removing the pool reduces the building footprint on that side and replaces deteriorated siding with painted brick intended to match the existing house. The board treated the submission as a footprint reduction rather than a new addition and voted to approve it "as submitted."

Details recorded in the meeting: The submission package includes photographs that staff noted were provided as JPEGs in the original submission; a board member observed the JPEGs did not display correctly in the PDF application used at the dais. The applicant said the old pool area previously functioned as a sleeping porch with existing brick columns; the plan replaces the siding on that portion with brick up approximately two feet and reinstates windows and a new access to a patio at the rear. HVAC equipment relocation from the rear to the side (where the pool had been) was also described.

A motion to approve the Middlesex changes was seconded and the roll call shows Carl Carlin and Matt Forman voting yes. The applicant told the board he had spoken to all neighbors and that they were supportive, according to the meeting record. Staff will include photographic evidence and the revised elevations in the city file.