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Commission approves in‑kind siding repairs and retention of discovered decorative arch at 86 Elm Street
Summary
The Historical Commission approved replacement of rotted siding with in‑kind material at 86 Elm Street, keeping a decorative arch uncovered during partial removal and allowing the owner to paint and restore the element.
The Worcester Historical Commission voted Oct. 9 to approve a certificate of appropriateness and a building demolition‑delay waiver for siding repairs at 86 Elm Street in the Elm Park Neighborhood Local Historic District.
Applicant Michelle Pignataro and owner Ignatius Jank explained that workers began painting and encountered rotted siding, removed the damaged sections and stopped work to seek commission review. Pignataro said the removed layer was later siding over an older brown siding layer; the team proposed repairing the damaged areas with in‑kind material to match the brown siding and to restore and retain a decorative arch element revealed during removal.
Commission staff confirmed the work was partially retrospective (the applicant had already removed some material before filing) and noted that painting alone does not require commission approval but removal does. Commissioners asked to see a sample of the replacement siding and discussed preserving the revealed decorative scallop/arch detail. The applicant said the proposal is to sand and paint the decorative arch and repair the damaged siding to match the remaining brown siding.
After public comment was closed, the commission found the proposed in‑kind repairs and retention of the decorative arch appropriate for the Elm Park Neighborhood Local Historic District and approved both the certificate of appropriateness and the demolition‑delay waiver by roll call.
