By Dan Murphy
The Beacon Hill Architectural Commission gave the green light to a design review application for 27 Brimmer St. during the commission’s monthly public hearing, which was held virtually on Thursday, July 17.
The proposed work comprises the installation of two 20½-inch tall wall sconces on either side of the building’s front entrance; the installation of a series of window planter boxes on the rear façade (with the lower level obscured from view from a public way); and the replacement of an existing rear garden fence with a brick wall to be outfitted with a black, paneled door.
The motion to approve this application, put forward by Commission Chair Mark Kiefer, was unanimously approved by himself, Vice Chair Arian Allen, and Commissioners Ralph Finegold and Sandra Steele; it came with several provisos, including that in lieu of the proposed brick, the rear fence be rebuilt in wood and modeled “substantially” after and in harmony with neighboring wood fences.
The new fence should also be no taller than the existing fence per another proviso while the design of the new fence would ultimately be delegated to BHAC staff (Nicholas Armata) for approval before construction begins.
The commission had reviewed a previous design review application for 27 Brimmer St. at its June 26 virtual public hearing and approved several components of the application at that time. But the applicant was advised then they would need to submit another application for the proposed wall sconces.
In another matter, the commission unanimously approved a motion to approve as submitted a design review application to replace a badly deteriorated wood gate at 111 Pinckney St., with a new wood gate to be painted with Benjamin Moore high-gloss black and equipped with a polished brass lockset.
Likewise, the commission unanimously approved a motion, put forward by Chair Kiefer, to approve as submitted a design review application for 78 Beacon St., with proposed work including the restoration of the front curb and stoop, along with the replacement of two light fixtures with new fixtures in an antique bronze finish.
Chair Kiefer’s motion also came with provisos that the granite in the curb and stoop be repaired using a dutchman technique (whereby the damaged area is removed and replaced with a custom-fitting piece, rather than replacing the whole slab); that a sample of the materials, including mortars, be submitted to staff prior to construction commencing; and that if the dutchman technique proves not to be feasible in this instance, the applicant then return to the commission with a new application.
“I think we would really want the applicant to demonstrate the need to replace it,” added Chair Kiefer.
The commission unanimously approved a design review application for 28-30 Mount Vernon St., which entailed the reconstruction of two brick chimneys.
The height of the new chimneys will remain the same at 26 inches, but their depth will each be reduced by 12 inches, said Jim McCluskey, general contractor on the project.
McCluskey said the city had authorized an emergency order for the immediate removal of the chimneys, after the contractor had uncovered structural issues while repairing leaks in them.
The reduced depth of the new chimneys is now necessary for structural reasons, added McCluskey.
The motion to approve this application, submitted by Chair Kiefer, came with several provisos, including that the applicant must provide documentation from a structural engineer demonstrating the chimneys are in fact beyond repair.
A violation for 51 Charles St. to ratify unapproved signage at that location was also scheduled for the hearing, but that matter ultimately wasn’t heard by the commission due to the applicant’s failure to appear.