Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historical commission approves demo-delay waiver for carriage house conversion at 12 Jackson Street
Summary
The Worcester Historical Commission voted unanimously to grant a building demolition-delay waiver and certificate of appropriateness for work at 12 Jackson Street that will convert the carriage house into two studio apartments while preserving historic exterior features.
The Worcester Historical Commission on Sept. 4 voted unanimously to grant a building demolition-delay waiver for 12 Jackson Street, allowing a proposed renovation that converts the property’s carriage house into two studio apartments while preserving character-defining exterior elements.
The vote matters because the property sits within the city’s historic resource area and the commission found the work would not be “detrimental to the historical or architectural resources of the city of Worcester.” Chair Diane Long convened the approval after hearing a description of the work and brief statements from the project team.
Attorney Jonathan Finkelstein, representing Michael O’Rourke, the manager of the LLC that owns the property, summarized the permitting history and said the property had been rezoned and received variances and planning approvals to allow the residential conversion. Designer Rafael Hernandez of Acropolis Design described the scope of work, saying, “We’re converting the carriage house into 2 studio apartment units.” Hernandez said exterior work will include cutting and repointing brick, replacing existing windows with wood-clad units, repairing or replacing trim in kind, filling overhead garage openings with fixed panels designed to mimic carriage doors, and replacing the roof with architectural asphalt shingles. He added that existing arches would be retained and that new utilities will be run to the newly independent lot.
Commission discussion was brief and supportive; Commissioner Taylor said, “Worcester has lost far too many carriage houses,” and voted in favor. The motion finding the proposed work would not be detrimental passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Taylor, Andre, Santos Restivo, Gutierrez Livoti, Northway, Thierman and Chair Long recorded as yes.
The approval is limited to the work described to the commission; the applicant must obtain any necessary building permits and other approvals before physical work begins. The commission’s finding and vote were recorded in the meeting minutes and will be published later.
Votes at a glance: Motion to grant building demolition-delay waiver for 12 Jackson Street — approved (7–0).
