ZBA approves wraparound porch and second‑floor addition at 99 Stedman Street

The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals on April 8 approved a variance to permit demolition of an existing sunroom and entry porch and the construction of a wraparound open porch with a second‑floor addition at 99 Stedman Street.

Philip Baker of Brock Design, representing homeowners Jeffrey and Melanie Martinez, described the house as a preexisting nonconforming one‑family dwelling. Baker said the existing sunroom sits on sonotubes and that the owners want to remove it and the covered entry, then build an open porch that wraps both street elevations. He said the only second‑floor addition would be on the Stedman Street side to enlarge upstairs bedrooms.

Baker explained the existing sunroom is narrow inside and the change would make the porch more usable; he told the board the project is intended to improve function and the streetscape. The board noted written support from a nearby property owner; an email from Mike Rourke of 100 Stedman Street stated he reviewed the plans and had no objection.

The Department of Public Works engineering division submitted correspondence dated March 17, 2025; the board clerk said the DPW letter and other communications would be incorporated into the project record.

After board discussion, a member moved to allow the variance; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board recorded the favorable votes and directed that the DPW communication be added to the decision record.

Why it matters: The approved work affects the house’s frontage and the character of the immediate Stedman Street block; the board treated the change as an improvement to an existing nonconforming structure.

Next steps: Applicants must submit final plan sets for the record and comply with any conditions noted in the decision.