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HARB approves several certificates of demolition and appropriateness; requires salvage, finish and material changes
Summary
At its Dec. 18 meeting the HARB approved a demolition at 101 Magnolia (with salvage conditions), granted after‑the‑fact fencing corrections at 26 Tokes Place, approved a partial demolition and rehabilitation at 38 Park Avenue, and approved a Oneida Street addition with design conditions; board also continued 58 Charlotte Street outdoor changes.
The Historic Architecture Review Board handled a slate of routine and contested items at its Dec. 18 meeting, approving a demolition, several certificates of appropriateness and ordering modest corrective work where applications arrived after construction.
- 101 Magnolia Drive (HP2025-0076): Applicant Christopher Oparo was sworn and staff recommended approval of a certificate of demolition on the basis that the structure is not locally designated. The board approved demolition conditioned on salvaging usable materials — specifically existing landscape bricks, ground-floor exterior concrete block and bricks from the chimney — consistent with the staff-referenced salvage requirement.
- 58 Charlotte Street: The board approved a reduced, wood pergola/screening structure for rooftop/AC screening (HP2025-0070) with the expectation that the finished wood be natural cedar/cypress and administratively reviewed. A related application for broader outdoor courtyard changes at the same street address (HP2025-0080) — including large areas of brick paving, bench seats and a proposed water well — drew sustained critique and was continued to Jan. 15 so applicants could return with revised paving and bench materials and clearer drainage and grease-trap solutions.
- 26 Tokes Place (Blue Carriage Inn, HB2025-0078): After public comment and staff recommendations, the board approved after-the-fact replacement fencing conditioned on finishing the outward-facing side so the exterior does not show the unfinished reverse face. The board accepted the stepped height up to 8 feet where allowed by zoning.
- 38 Park Avenue (HP2025-0077): The board approved partial demolition and an addition intended to restore and update a circa-1954 contributing residence. The approval included conditions to keep window proportions appropriate to the house (1-over-1 double/single hung recommended), use a low-profile standing-seam galvalume roof and adopt thicker trim to replicate historic shadow lines; applicants may choose artisan lap or similar fiber‑cement lap with staff review.
- 143 Oneida Street (HP2025-0079): Board approved a larger rear addition subject to design changes intended to differentiate new from old — specifically, a vertical separator board and lap siding (not novelty siding) on the addition, and staff review of window proportions and egress compliance.
Board members and staff emphasized that where work has already been done with incomplete approvals the HARB will expect visible corrections (e.g., panels on the outside of fences) rather than creating a precedent for after‑the‑fact work. Several motions passed unanimously.
Next steps: Applicants for items approved with conditions must submit revised drawings or shop drawings to staff for administrative approval; items that cannot be resolved administratively will return to a future HARB meeting.
