Allan Appel Photo
The developers of the Greene Street Apartments — 23 one and two-bedroom units slated to emerge from the old St. Michael’s School and Convent buildings at 234, 240, and 250 Greene St. in Wooster Square — promised to stay true to history and true to the sun.
That was their pitch Wednesday night to the members of the Historic District Commission, which ultimately must award the developers, Michael Massimino and his Branford-based Mass Development LLC, a certificate of appropriateness if the rehabbing and re-purposing of the old buildings is to proceed.
Developer Massimino and attorney Caleb Hamel.
That’s because the buildings are in the heart of the city’s Wooster Square Historic District. Every change visible from the public way in these districts is subject to the HDC’s approval.
The project’s site plan is to go before the City Plan Commission next week. It was not yet formally on the agenda of the historic commissioners Wednesday night. Massimino and his team — Guilford-based architect John Cruet, the project’s lawyer Caleb Hamel, from Susman, Duffy & Segaloff, and architectural historian Marguerite Carnell — showed up anyway for a get-to-know-you chat.
They came bearing an impressive array of photographs, provisional elevations, and ideas to test the waters and to preview the general outlines of their plans.
The commissioners in general said they liked what they heard, especially that the project’s financing will rely on tax credits from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). That virtually requires that the past live on as much as possible in the present and future rehab plans.
Architect Carnell is an historian with Archaelogocial and Historical Services, Inc, located in Storrs.
“My initial concern was the replacement [addition] above the gym and the windows,” Carnell reported.
The St. Michael’s convent building.
The replacement she referred to is a recessed addition to be built on the roof of the 234 Greene building at the corner, which faces an abandoned stretch of Chestnut Street with the I‑91 roadway to the east and the Conte West Hills School to the south.
“SHPO suggested lowering the height of the addition,” Carnell said, and so the developers have.
The other main concern — the many new window in store — is being researched, Carnell added, so that the replacements will be as much as possible in consonance with the present look of the building.
Next to the 234 building, which will be the platform of the addition, is a small garage built in 1965. Carnell said it is of no historical value and will be torn down.
Carnell reported that he is examining the possibility of solar panels on the roof of the addition. HDC Chair Trina Learned said details such as the number, type of panel, and their positioning will be important to know for context.
Other commissioners asked if the addition will be visible from Chapel Street — no one was quite sure — and if, legally, the section of Chestnut Street at 234 Greene, which the building with addition will face, is legally abandoned.
“We’re investigating this, and we think it is,” replied Attorney Hamel.
Learned was not sure. She pointed out that the purview of the HDC, over everything visible from the public way, includes what might be seen from the window of car tooling by on I‑91 above.
“Maybe a video of the view from I‑91” would also be a good idea, suggested Commissioner Tom Kimberly.
There was more discussion of some rooftop decks, which are planned for some of the buildings and if they, as well as equipment sheds, would also be visible.
“We’d like to see plans for those as well,” said Learned.
Like his colleagues, Commissioner George Knight said he was impressed by the phalanx of experts and the presentation. He did add a caveat: “Please don’t introduce suburban idiom like sliding doors.”
“So you’re primarily concerned with the addition, the windows, the exterior, the lighting?” Canell summed up.
“Yes,” said Learned.
Massimino added that religious statues, plaques, stained glass windows, murals and other art work are being returned to St. Michael’s.
Carnell pointed out that plans for the interior — which is not the purview of the HDC — intend to retain as much as possible the stairways and routes of circulation that were used in the school.
“We appreciate that you’ve come in, and we think this is a great project for the neighborhood,” said Knight.
If all goes well with the site plan review, the project may be on the HDC’s agenda for a certificte of appropriateness for the Aug. 14 meeting.
