HARB Meeting

HARB MEETING


The scheduled meeting of the Reading Historical Architectural Review Board will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:30p.m. in the Penn Room on the first floor of City Hall, 815 Washington St.

AGENDA

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6:30 p.m.                       Call to order.  Reading of the minutes of previous meetings.

    6:35 p.m. ITEM #1        City Park Bandshell Pond

                                         City of Reading, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: N/A

Review request for the rehabilitation of the City Park Bandshell pond to include the installation of hardscaping at the pond’s edges in order to reduce maintenance requirements, replacement of the existing pond liner, replacement of the fountain circulation system, and the installation of planters in the pond for controlled plant growth.

    6:50 p.m. ITEM #2        804 N. 3^rd St.

                                         Danuta Smiechowski, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 104

Review request for the replacement of 3 original wood double hung windows with 3 white vinyl replacement windows at the second floor front bay window. (Violation – work has been completed.)

    7:05 p.m. ITEM #3        308 S. 5^th St.

                                         Juan Sosa, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 30

Review request for the replacement of the first floor entrance door; replacement of the existing metal railing with wood railings at the first floor entrance steps; painting of exterior surfaces. (Violation – work has been completed.)

    7:20 p.m. ITEM #4        639 Pine St.

                                         Jose Luis Erazo, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 32

Review request for the installation of blue 4.5” Dutch lap vinyl siding at the eastern façade; installation of an aluminum awning at the first floor front porch (Violation – work (installation of the awning) has been partially completed.)

    7:35 p.m. ITEM #5        245 S. 5^th St.

                                         Mercedes S8th LLC, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 78

Review request for the demolition of the rear brick garage structure and brick wall at the southern boundary line. (Violation – work has been completed.)

    7:50 p.m. ITEM #6        800 N. 5^th St.

                                         Jamie Miller, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 132

Review request for the installation of 9 aluminum storm windows at the third floor northern, southern, eastern, and western facades.

    8:05 p.m. ITEM #7        721 N. 4^th St.

                                         Blythe Ratcliffe, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 86

Review request for the installation of a 6’ high white vinyl fence with 2 gates at the rear yard.

    8:20 p.m. ITEM #8        335 S. 7^th St.

                                         Jasmine Taveras, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 26

Review request for the installation of a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address, replacement of the existing light fixture with a black lantern style light fixture, and the installation of a black metal mailbox at the first floor front façade.      

    8:35 p.m. ITEM #9        420 S. 7^th St.

                                         Sheree L. Henley, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 94

Review request for the installation of a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address at the first floor front façade; installation of pressure treated wood to cover the existing metal basement door that is flush with the sidewalk in front of the building.

    8:50 p.m. ITEM #10       430 S. 7^th St.

                                         Brenda Weaver, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 26

Review request for the installation of a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address and the installation of a black lantern style light fixture at the first floor front façade; alteration of the siding at the northern façade to allow the closure of the alley gate. 

    9:05 p.m. ITEM #11       437 S. 7^th St.

                                         Grant Cooper, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 82

Review request for the installation of a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address and the installation of a black lantern style light fixture at the first floor front façade; replacement of the solid wood alley entrance door with a paneled wood entrance door; installation of a 4x6 pressure treated wood support post at the first floor front porch; stuccoing of the interior of the grocer’s alley.

    9:20 p.m. ITEM #12       440 S. 7^th St.

                                         Davies Estate LLC, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 80

Review request for the installation of a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address and the installation of a black lantern style light fixture, and the installation of a black metal mailbox at the first floor front façade; installation of a 4x6 pressure treated wood support post at the first floor front porch.

    9:35 p.m. ITEM #13       443 S. 7^th St.

                                         Davies Estate LLc, Owner

                                         Composite Index Rating: 26

Review request for the a 7.8” x 12” plaque to depict the building’s address and the installation of a black metal mailbox at the first floor front façade; removal of existing address numbers above the first floor front entrance.

    9:50 p.m. ITEM #14       Review applications approved by Staff:

1. 100 S. 5^th, City of Reading, Owner

Installation of a security camera above the front entrance at the eastern facade.

1. 356 Spring St., Robert Fuster, Owner

Repair of the concrete front entrance steps and retaining wall in kind.

1. 450 Penn St., Our City Reading, Inc., Owner

Refacing of 5 existing signs reading “Santander” at the northern and eastern facades in kind; refacing of 5 existing awnings reading “Santander” on the front panel at the northern façade in kind.

1. 33 S. 11^th, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Owner

Restoration of 4 stained glass windows in kind.

1. 336 Windsor St., Jennifer Savini, Owner

Replacement of existing 3-tab asphalt shingles with GAF Camelot II asphalt shingles at the third floor Mansard roof; repair of rotten wood at one third floor dormer at the western façade in kind; repair of two existing wood windows and their surrounds at the southern façade in kind.

    9:55 p.m.                      Other Business 

• Preservation Officer’s Report on Action Items:
  • 108 S. 6^th – Vinyl window installed incorrectly in the bay window at the southern façade. Staff has sent a compliance letter.
  • 253 N. 5^th – Demolition by Neglect, Property Maintenance Violation. The City Codes Office has installed black painted plywood in the window openings to help protect the building. Plans for interior renovations were approved by the Building and Trades Office on December 10, 2015.
  • 34 N. 11^th – Standing seam roof approved by HARB but has ridges. Staff to investigate whether what was installed was approved by the HARB.
  • 306 S. 5^th – City Council denied the owner’s appeal on November 24^th and the restoration of the front façade was to be completed within 180 days from Nov. 24, 2014 as per Council Res. No. 127-2014. Work has not been completed to date. Staff sent a compliance letter.  As of 2017 there is a new owner.  Staff has contacted a representative of the new owner regarding the ongoing violation.
  • 927 N. 4^th – A temporary repair of the original terra cotta tiled roof was approved by the HARB for 100 days remains in place. Staff is to contact the roofing contractor to determine status.
  • 941 N. 4^th – The original cedar shake shingles on the bay window were to be replaced in kind but instead were replaced with 3” vinyl siding in a cypress color which was not approved by the HARB. Staff is to send a violation letter.
  • 407 S. 6^th – Work was not completed to HARB specifications. The Board concurred that the undertaken work may be approved if slightly modified. Staff is to discuss the removal of the installed medallions below the storefront window with the contractor.
  • 412 Windsor St. – Front entrance door remains in violation. Owner has submitted a proposed door that is appropriate. Staff is to work with owner to obtain compliance.
  • 837 Rose St. – Entrance steps constructed in violation, work has not been completed as per HARB Res. No. 74-15. Staff sent a compliance letter but to date there has been no response. There is a new owner of the building. Staff is to send a new compliance letter.
  • 21 S. 5^th – The 90 day extension period for the temporary plywood covering of the dormer windows has expired and the plywood remains. This building has a new owner as of 2020.
  • 547 Bingaman St. – The HARB approved a half lite wood entrance door to replace the door installed in violation. The existing door has not been installed in compliance with HARB Resolution 25-16. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 200 N. 5^th – The green marble trim below the storefront window on the southern façade has been altered inappropriately and is not compliant with Resolution 91-14. HARB Discussed ongoing violations at the October 17, 2017 HARB meeting and has given the owner 6 months to present a proposal to address the violation and other proposed work. Staff met with the property owner on March 9^th to discuss the replacement of windows and proposed repairs as per HARB Resolution No. 67-17.  Staff has been in contact with the representative of the building in August 2018 regarding the revised Window Policy.
  • 821 N. 5^th – Replacement of wood windows on the front façade with aluminum clad wood windows and the installation of vinyl windows on the southern façade were completed in violation and denied. The owner has not replaced the windows according to HARB Res. No. 67-16. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 737 Madison Ave. – Modifications to the first floor front porch to install a vertical platform lift were not completed according to HARB Res. No. 03-17. Staff spoke with the representative of the owner regarding the work as completed. The representative of the owner stated that he will look into the matter and will discuss the work with the contractor.
  • 1023 N. 5^th – Replacement of existing wood lattice at the first floor front porch has not been completed as per HARB Res. No. 23-17. Staff is to investigate and send a compliance letter.
  • 422 Douglass St. – A black wrought iron door has was installed in violation at the basement level entrance at the eastern façade and was denied by the HARB as per Res. No. 18-17. Staff has sent a violation letter in July 2023 for a recently replaced wood balustrade at the first floor front porch and for non-compliance with the above. The owner addressed the railing but not the security door. Staff is to cite the owner for the security door.
  • 914 Madison Ave. – The rear fence installed in violation has not been modified as per HARB Res. 30-17. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 551 Penn St. – The internally illuminated individually lettered sign installed in violation at the storefront has not been removed as per HARB Res. No. 29-17. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 321 N. 5^th – The lower portion of the front façade was painted in violation and remains painted. Staff will investigate whether or not they are in compliance with Res. No. 09-18.
  • 817 N. 4^th – Several proposed alterations have not been completed according to HARB Resolution 08-18. From April 2021, Staff has worked with a property management company to correct the outstanding issues with the property. On May 11, 2022 Staff was informed that the property management company is no longer contracted by the owner to finish the rehabilitation project and Staff is now working with representatives of the owner (Midfirst Bank) regarding other outstanding issues.
  • 647 Bingaman St. – Staff is to investigate the installation of the first floor front window.
  • 513 S. 5^th – Front entrance door was not replaced as per the resolution (elective work) and was painted in a color that was not approved. Staff is to investigate.
  • 1164 Perkiomen Ave. – The paint color scheme denied by the HARB in HARB Res. No. 14-19 remains at the first floor storefront. Staff is working with the owner and tenant to determine appropriate paint colors for the building and new paint color samples have been submitted.
  • 1334 Good St. – All of the work has not been completed as per Resolution No. 29-19. The owner was to return with a request for Financial Hardship for various items that are in violation. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 354 Penn St. – Approved signage was installed as per HARB Resolution No. 38-19 however additional signage may have been installed on the eastern façade. Staff made a site visit in May 2020 and found additional signage had been installed on the eastern façade that was not approved by the HARB. Staff is to contact the business owner.
  • 1049 N. 5^th – The entrance door installed in violation has been replaced with historically appropriate double entrance doors as per HARB Resolution No. 32-19. Painting of the doors requires review. The railing at the first floor front porch installed in violation remains in violation. Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 331 Greenwich St. – Staff met with the owner on 4/6/21 to discuss proposed work to a rear porch and determined that HARB Res. No. 51-19 has not been complied with – the tile installed on the first floor front porch has not been removed. The owner informed Staff that due to COVID, they do not have the funds to bring the porch into compliance but are working on rectifying the issue. Staff attended a court hearing for the property on 5/20/21.  The owner has been ordered to begin making necessary improvements to the property (both for the installed tile and other items) and to return to court once a month to show their progress.  In July Staff approved the in kind repair and replacement of the rear second floor porch roof structure, the painting of exterior surfaces in kind, and the replacement of downspouts and gutters in kind.  Staff attended a court hearing for the property on 10/26/21. The owner has secured a contractor and has started work on the property.  Staff attended a court hearing for the property on 12/21/21 at which time it was determined that the owner had completed most of the work as listed above and removed the ceramic tile on the front porch that was in violation.  However, the wood decking that was installed does not comply with HARB Res. No. 51-19.  Staff is to send a compliance letter.
  • 146 S. 5^th – The review of the front entrance steps was tabled (HARB Res. No. 58-19) but the applicant has not proceeded with researching the appropriate material for the partially completed entrance steps. Staff is to reach out to the applicant.
  • 1114 Perkiomen Ave. – HARB Res. No. 56-19 was appealed to City Council on 2/5/20, the appeal (City Council Res. No. 40-2020) was not adopted and therefore the owner remains in violation of HARB Res. No. 56-19. Staff sent a compliance letter and received a response on July 29, 2021.
  • 1023 Walnut St. – The construction of a roof over the first floor front porch was not completed according to the proposed plan as approved by the HARB as per HARB Res. No. 12-21 (April 2021). Staff is to send original plans to the HARB members for review of what was proposed and what was completed.
  • 921 N. 3^rd – The owner has not complied with HARB Res. No. 24-21 regarding the replacement of the front entrance doors. The tile installed in violation has been removed from the first floor front porch. Staff sent a compliance letter, the owner has responded, and Staff is to work with the owner regarding compliance.
• September and October 2022 HARB resolutions will be reviewed by Staff at the November 2023 HARB meeting.
• Education and Outreach Committee Report.
• Policy Committee Report.

     10:30 p.m.                   Adjournment