By Chris Frost
Eagle Times News Editor
CLAREMONT — At its meeting on July 27, Claremont’s Historic District Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for the Claremont Learning Partnership, allowing the addition of an exterior stairway at its 169 Main Street location.
The commission found the project will enhance and preserve the area’s historical, cultural and architectural qualities. Historic District Commission Chairman David Messier said the group is looking to refurbish the handicapped entrance.
Alan Croteau, from Real Property Options, said they’re working on two building additions, which required a second means of egress to meet life safety regulations for the River View Chartered Public School, which is expanding in the building.
“This is located on the Spring Street side of the building, on the right side,” Croteau said. “She (Cathy Pellerin) previously submitted other plans for this but the architect and engineer found out the building, as it is, wouldn’t be able to hold the entire stairwell. Other than the roof, it is now self-sustaining on the ground.”
He said the architect also submitted some visuals for the handicapped side of the building.
“What they’re going to do is put this in place and replicate what has already been approved for the building, which is a Certificate of Appropriateness, that was given for metal rail fencing enclosing a large play area,” said Croteau. “The fencing and railings from these two areas are going to be exactly the same as what was approved for the play area.”
Initially, Croteau said the intent was to strip the face where the stairway would be, but a mason looked at it and said it needed a lot more work. “They’re going to do the structure separately,” he said. “Standing alone, they don’t feel the wall is going to sustain it, unless it has future work done to it.”
According to Croteau, the required egress is too far to come out on Spring Street. They’ll replace the ramp with a platform and a set of stairs with a lift for handicap access.
“Part of the reason for the lift, instead of another ramp, is the ramp currently there is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant,” he said.
He explained, “the ramp would have to extend halfway down Spring Street because it slopes downhill, almost an equal amount of what this ramp would be. What they did instead, to save space, is they’re proposing to do a platform with a stairway.”
He said on the right side, “while looking at the Spring Street area and on the left section, they’ll have a lift and around that area will be concrete skirting with walkways leading up to the crosswalk. They own a parking area on the other side of Spring Street and they’ll put in an ADA space and other parking.”
Messier asked about the materials for the roof support and Croteau said the lattice is PT strips. “I’m assuming it’s staying the same color as the frame for the previous project around the two existing projects,” Croteau said.
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