By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer
(April 13, 2023) A couple of months after being told to go back to the drawing board, the developer of a proposed building at 19 Gay Street got the seal of approval from the Berlin Historic District Commission — and a few attending residents — on April 5.
Architect Jonathon Selway detailed at the meeting the changes he made after he was told in February that the building needed more historic detailing to match the aesthetic of the town.
Selway has said that the three-story building will have commercial and residential space.
The main focus was on the facade itself, Selway said. Among the more noticeable changes were the gray section of the building pushed back seven feet from the brick facade, windows moved to a “more traditional placement” on the facade, the siding of the building colored a darker gray, steps added to the brickwork at the top of the parapet wall and lighting that gives the building “a more historic fixture, like a gas-lantern feel.”
“I do believe that the building has greatly benefitted from this process and it fits a lot better within the town fabric,” Selway said.
“When compared to Main Street, we believe that the building has become cohesive with the town but it is still honest with its expression of the present time and the context (in which) it’s being built. We’re excited for the opportunity to bring this opportunity to the town.”
The commission raved in response.
“I’m just terribly impressed with how you took all of our random thoughts and what you created.” commission member Mary Moore said. “I’m loving that it wasn’t taken as personal criticism but as perhaps … trying to find the very best.
“My eye was jumping (from one feature to the next).”
At one point, Selway described accommodations for a future building in the design for the present building, including doing away with corner windows to a more “traditional” placement and the aforementioned darker gray color.
Commission Chair Nornie Bunting, however, thought it wasn’t necessary to accommodate a building that doesn’t exist.
“It kind of throws off a little bit,” he said. “We all get phone calls (asking what certain things are). On a building that doesn’t exist — we don’t know if it will ever exist — I don’t know if I would put that on there. That’s just me telling you. I like it. You’ve done everything that I thought needed to be done … I’m liking what I see but still there are many other commissioners here that I’m sure have questions.”
The remaining questions ended up being few, but there was more praise.
“I have been conflicted over this whole building since the minute I saw it. I thought it wasn’t going to fit into the Town of Berlin. Since this whole thing has been in the newspapers, I’ve had a lot of people come to me and say this is not fitting into the town,” Commission member Laura Stearns said. “I think that this reflects the arts district of this town. I think that it’s not Main Street and our job is about compromise. I really think this is a perfect compromise. You’ve brought some of the characteristics of some of the existing buildings, and it is really modern, but I think it will really fit.”
Three residents even showed up in support of the building, with one Jefferson Street resident saying he “100 percent (supports) what this gentleman is trying to do in our town.”
In other matters discussed, the commission approved the installation of an eight-by-six, roll-up garage door on the exterior of Jeffrey Auxer Designs at 19 Jefferson Street.
The commission approved a new sign in an existing frame and exterior repainting for Urban Cottage Home and Gift at 17 Jefferson Street, which the owner hopes will open by June 1 and
And the commission approved an isinglass canvas wall at Tiki Tims at 103 South Main Street. Before the wall can go up, owners will have to install a previously agreed-upon fence that will go past the business’s outdoor walk-in cooler. The commission noted that its preference is for the fence to be stained a darker color.