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Tripp-Oakleigh Letter 10/3The Tripp House Trust Barbara Lewis, Trustee 532 Wianno Ave. Wianno MA The Oakleigh Trust Barbara Lewis, Trustee 510 Wianno Ave. Wianno MA October 3, 2022 Barnstable Historic Commission 367 Main Street Hyannis, Ma 02601 RE: 554 Wianno Avenue, Osterville Dear Commissioners: The Tripp House Trust, of which I am a Trustee, located at 532 Wianno Avenue,Osterville, is an immediate abutter to 554 Wianno Avenue, the Kelley property. In addition, the Oakleigh Trust, of which I am also a Trustee, has owned the home nearby at 510 Wianno Avenue for almost 50 years. As neighbors, area residents,and abutters, both Trusts have significant concerns about the project proposed by the Kelleys for 554 Wianno Avenue. As an initial matter, we are confused by the description of the project as a renovation. Based on the information in the Conservation Commission application, the house is being relocated ±10’ to the southwest and provided with a new foundation at that location. None of the existing foundation is being reused. A review of the site plan shows the now open northwest corner of the building being infilled, changing the building shape from an “L” to a rectangle. The architectural plans show the roof being raised 2’ and the entire roof scape being changed. And every façade is being modified. We are neither builders nor architects, but this project seems more like a replacement than a renovation. It is our understanding that when a listed building is proposed to have more than 25% of its façade altered, the project is supposed to be referred to the Cape Cod Commission. It is our understanding that the dwelling at 554 Wianno Ave. is a contributing Building in a National Register Historic District. As such, its alteration should be referred to the Cape Cod Commission as more than 25% of its façade is proposed to be altered simply by the infill of the NW corner, not to mention the other proposed changes. In her letter of 12/20/16 (attached), provided in response to a proposal to cut the house into 3 pieces and move two of them off-site, Sarah Korjeff, the Preservation Specialist for the Cape Cod Commission opined that the primary, character defining features of the house were: • 2 ½ story L-shaped mass with its west facing jerkinhead and south facing gable • Gabled dormer and second floor porch on the southwest • Skirted and woven shingle details • Rounded bay and tower like projection above it on the east façade • 1-story porch and unique angled bay window above it on the south façade. It appears that, of these defining characteristics, at least two of the 5 will be completely lost; the L-shaped massing and the east façade features. Further defining characteristics of the building are the idiosyncratic window design and placement. Comparing the actual photographs of the existing building with the proposed facade design (attached), you can see that all of this detailing is being lost. The proposed window arrangement is much more rhythmic and the design much more uniform. This destroys the quirky individualism of the house, making it a modern interpretation of a historic building using some of the historic details. The design may be nice, but the end result is much less than equivalent to the original. Apparently lacking are any façade plans for the new carriage house, or pool cabana and pool fencing, all of which will impact the visual quality of the site and its setting. These are important as this is part of a prominent property contributing to the Federally listed Wianno Historic District, not just a stand-alone historic building. These features will change the public view of the site in a way which will impact the District as a whole. It is our belief that the Commission is obligated to refer the project to the Cape Cod Commission for review before making any decision of its own. My hope is that the final result of these reviews will be more of an actual building remodeling and less of a building replacement. Yours sincerely, ____________________ Barbara Lewis, Trustee The Tripp House Trust ____________________ Barbara Lewis, Trustee The Oakleigh Trust cc: Sarah Korjeff, Cape Cod Commission attachments