Sharon commission approves renovation of 99 North Main into four affordable units

The Sharon Historic District Commission approved plans March 23 to renovate the town‑owned building at 99 North Main Street into four affordable housing units, two of which will be handicapped accessible.

Architect Andrew Ferentinos, representing the Sharon Housing Trust, presented detailed drawings and a brief history of the 1921 former Masonic Temple and said the project will be a gut interior renovation. Ferentinos told the commission all windows will be replaced with true divided‑light units as shown in the submission, the east and west cedar‑shake roofing details will be painted white, and new gutters and HVAC equipment are included. He said no fencing or gates were part of the application as presented.

Following a period of questions and answers, Commissioner Steve Szalewicz moved and Theo Coulombe seconded to close the public hearing; the motion carried with all in favor and the hearing was closed at 5:50 p.m. The commission then approved the application “as presented,” with the record noting the applicant must return with detailed designs for any fencing or gates before those elements can be approved or installed.

The commission recorded that the required legal notice had appeared and that John Brett arrived late to the meeting. The approval preserves several exterior historic details identified by the applicant — notably the plan for true divided‑light replacement windows and retention of the existing roofline character — while permitting an interior conversion intended to expand the town’s supply of affordable housing.

The next procedural step described in the meeting record is that the applicant will return with fencing and gate details for separate review. The commission closed its meeting at 5:55 p.m.