The Historic District Commission approved a package of work at 75 Main Street on Jan. 14 that included repair and partial reconstruction of a historic brick wall, conversion of an attached shed to a cottage, and rooftop solar on the main house.

Project representatives provided a 3‑D scan of the wall and conservation‑style repair details prepared in consultation with master mason Colin Evans. The applicant proposed removing the most deteriorated 3–4 feet of the wall, salvaging and reusing historic bricks where possible, and supplementing with closely matched replacement brick produced to historic profiles. The HDC thanked the project team for commissioning a 3‑D scan and for presenting masonry repair methods consistent with preservation practice.

The commission approved the wall repairs and the cottage conversion; members recorded that the cottage certificate of appropriateness will be ratified on the posted agenda after submission of the final COA materials. The HDC also approved rooftop solar on the main house conditioned on the roof replacement being a dark/black shingle so the panels are visually less prominent; the commission required the four panels shown on the south elevation to be lowered so their top edge sits below an existing skylight.

Master mason Colin Evans told commissioners he could reuse a portion of bricks and had identified a supplier capable of matching historic sizes and color. HDC staff noted the wall is a significant fabric element associated with the Henry Coffin House (circa 1834) and asked that COA language reflect the contiguous nature of the cottage work and wall repairs when the final certificate is issued.

Votes and next steps: The HDC moved, seconded and approved the work as submitted; conditions — including final digital renderings and a condition that solar panels be repositioned as noted — will be recorded on the COA. The commission asked staff and the applicant to coordinate final phrasing so the wall and cottage approvals align in the administrative record.

Why it matters: The brick wall is a highly visible historic element in downtown Nantucket; the commission’s approval reflects a preservation approach (documentation, salvage, matching replacements) and balances that with a modern rooftop solar installation under visual‑mitigation conditions.