15 South Gate Park

[Theodore M. Hess Mahan]

Dear West Newton Peeps:

I have what I hope you will agree is good news about the former Knights of Columbus Hall on South Gate Park in West Newton.  Last night, the Historic Commission approved the owner's plans to convert the building to five units of housing and restore and preserve the historic character of the original building.  As I have mentioned previously, this is a historic building built c. 1900 and was used as the North Gate Club until 1924.  From 1924 it was used as the Odd Fellows Hall, until the Knights of Columbus bought it in 1954.

Tony DePasquale bought the building in September 2014, and applied for a demolition permit.  At the September 25, 2014 meeting of the Historic Commission, he explained that he wanted to preserve the building if possible but wanted to keep his options open.  The Historic Commission found that the building was preferably preserved, and voted to impose a one year demolition delay.

Since then, Mr. DePasquale, his architect, Ronald Jarek, and Newton Senior Historic Preservation Planner, Katy Holmes, have been working together on a plan to restore and preserve the historic character of this building, which you can see in the attached postcard. In the 1970s, the Knights of Columbus significantly modified the building and built an addition on the front, shown in the attached photo taken a few months ago.

Last night, Mr. DePasquale presented his plans for the historic restoration and preservation of the building and conversion into 5 units of housing to the Historic Commission, seeking a waiver of the demolition delay.  The Historic Commission voted to approve the plans, which are also attached.  Mr. DePasquale will now need a special permit from the Board of Aldermen for the project.

I want to thank Katy Holmes, Tony DePasquale and Ronald Jarek for all of their hard work on this project. So often, developers simply wait out the demolition delay and tear the building down and put up a large single family house.  In this case, however, Mr. DePasquale used the time to put together plans that were met with unanimous approval from the Historic Commission.  This is how the demolition review process should work, whenever possible.  I think this is a very exciting project, and I am looking forward to it coming before the Board of Aldermen in the near future.

Please feel free to contact me (thess...@newtonma.gov) or Katy Holmes (kho...@newtonma.gov) if you have any questions.

Ted Hess-Mahan

Alderman-at-Large Ward 3

871 Watertown Street

Newton, MA 02465

(508) 847-4855

thess...@newtonma.gov

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

"Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant."  --Louis D. Brandeis

When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

[Kallan Lock-Durken]

Hello-

Just to add ( I was at the meeting). There is some concern over parking spots, traffic flow, and the proposed handicap ramp. 

The current plans propose 6 underground spots; 3 above ground (2 potential guest and 1 Handicap designated spot). 

These will be addressed at the land use hearing I believe. 

Tony and his architect  are very open and spent time talking to myself and another neighbor regarding the project.

Ted: do you know when the land use meeting will take place? Will neighbors be notified?

Thank you,

Kallan

(15 South Gate Park)

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[Theodore M. Hess Mahan]

Dear Kallan:

Good questions.

We get a weekly report on projects that are reviewed by the Design Review Team (DRT) prior to filing for a special permit.  I believe that Mr. DePasquale was waiting for approval from the Historic Commission before beginning the special  permit process, but I will check with the Senior Planner, Alexandra Ananth to see if he has already come in for the DRT, and will get back to you.  Please note that I have copied her on this email.

Once the special permit is filed, the abutters within 300 feet will all receive notice by mail, as required under Chapter 40A, including the date and time of the public hearing.  In addition, under the Board of Aldermen's Rules, a sign is also posted in front of the property to give notice to the neighbors that the owner will be seeking a special permit.  The public hearings are conducted by the Land Use Committee, usually on a Tuesday night, in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall.  If you have any concerns about the project you should come to the public hearing, or email the committee clerk, Linda Finucane, at lfin...@newtonma.gov with your comments or concers.  Or, you can always contact one of your aldermen.

In addition, it is possible that the owner may modify the plan somewhat in response to concerns raised at the Historic Commission meeting, as well as by the DRT.  If these modifications are significant, the owner may or may not need to come back to the Historic Commission before filing for a special permit.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Ted Hess-Mahan

Alderman-at-Large Ward 3

871 Watertown Street

Newton, MA 02465

(508) 847-4855

thess...@newtonma.gov

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

"Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant."  --Louis D. Brandeis

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From: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Kallan Lock-Durken <kldu...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 5:59 PM
To: Theodore M. Hess Mahan
Cc: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com; James R. Cote; Barbara Brousal-Glaser; Katy Hax Holmes; James Freas; Alexandra Ananth; dorfm...@comcast.net
Subject: Re: [WNewton] 15 South Gate Park

 

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[Theodore M. Hess Mahan]

Thanks, Alexandra.

Ted Hess-Mahan

Alderman-at-Large Ward 3

871 Watertown Street

Newton, MA 02465

(508) 847-4855

thess...@newtonma.gov

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

"Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant."  --Louis D. Brandeis

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From: Alexandra Ananth
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2015 9:56 AM
To: Theodore M. Hess Mahan; kldu...@gmail.com
Cc: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com; James R. Cote; Barbara Brousal-Glaser; Katy Hax Holmes; James Freas; dorfm...@comcast.net; Linda M. Finucane; Stephen Pantalone
Subject: RE: [WNewton] 15 South Gate Park

 

Hello Kallan and West Newton,

 

This project has already had a Development Review Team meeting (DRT) and just filed for a special permit hearing that will likely be schedule by the City Clerk for July 14.  A sign about the hearing will be posted on site two weeks prior to the public hearing.  As Alderman Hess Mahan noted, abutters will receive notice from the Clerk’s office.

 

I appreciate hearing the concerns with this project and the Planning Department will be sure to address them in our technical review memo that is addressed to the Board prior to the public hearing.

 

Please let me know if you have other questions as this project moves forward.

 

Best,

Alexandra Ananth

Chief Planner for Current Planning

617-796-1121