Worcester Historical Commission approves three preservation requests, postpones Elm Street item

At a hybrid meeting on Aug. 28, the Worcester Historical Commission approved three local preservation requests, instructed staff to update letters of support for municipal projects and postponed consideration of 1106 Elm Street until its next meeting, extending a constructive grant deadline to Oct. 24.

The actions affect two private renovation projects and one small accessory structure in the Elm Park Historic District and were approved by roll-call votes. The commission heard applicants and contractors describe structural problems, materials choices and safety concerns before voting.

The commission approved a demolition-delay waiver for 15 Randolph Road after owner James Evans and his contractor said a deteriorated rear sunroom and shallow footings required full removal and reconstruction. Evans said the porch footings are “only about a foot and a half down,” that the sunroom had settled and that the vaulted ceiling cannot be salvaged. The project will replace first-floor clapboards and upper shingles with James Hardie cement-fiber siding and use Marvin windows intended to replicate historic profiles; the sunroom will be rebuilt with a metal-shingle roof designed to mimic slate. Chair Diane Long called the motion, and the commission voted yes (recorded as: Commissioner Andre; Commissioner Santos Restivo; Commissioner Holnarski; Commissioner Thierman; Commissioner Taylor; Commissioner Northway; Commissioner Gutierrez Laboti; Chair Diane Long).

Contractors emphasized safety and constructability in…