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After-the-fact work at 46 Wood Street draws sharp rebuke; HDC approves portions and continues rails and lighting
Summary
Commissioners flagged multiple items installed without prior approval at 46 Wood Street, including heat pumps, downspouts and railings. The owner’s attorney acknowledged the mistakes; the board approved gutters, required painted downspouts to match the wall, and allowed screened lattice for mini-splits while continuing review of stair railings and entry light fixtures.
The commission on Oct. 9 addressed a large renovation at 46 Wood Street where a number of visible elements were installed without prior Historic Districts Commission approval.
Attorney Peter Tam, representing the owners, told the commission: "I want to acknowledge and accept the fact that some of this work was done without your authorization." Commissioners expressed frustration at the pace and character of changes, particularly the mahogany-colored newel posts and highly detailed handrails that several members found "overwrought" and out of scale with the building’s shingle-style architecture.
The commission reached a mixed set of outcomes. It approved replacement gutters and the installation of lattice screening (natural cedar) to conceal three mini-split HVAC units, and accepted the removal of granite post lights from the application. The board required that downspouts be repainted to match the house body color so they are less visually prominent. The stair-rail design and the porch light fixtures were not approved; the commission asked the applicant to return with a simplified rail detail and a lower-output fixture option (single bulb equivalents, limited lumen output) or to prepare a full-scale mock-up of a revised rail for review at the Oct. 30 meeting. Several commissioners indicated they were willing to visit the site to review mock-ups.
The commission’s action acknowledged public-comment concerns about process and sought to preserve the district’s architectural character while allowing some work to remain in place if brought into compliance.
