The Final Landmark Designation Report for the Charles Hicks Saunders House

Introduction The Charles Hicks Saunders house at 1627 Massachusetts Avenue was constructed by a merchant and future mayor of Cambridge in 1862-63. It was recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1964 and individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as an important example of the Second Empire style and because of its associations with the Saunders family.

Preservation of the remaining North Avenue mansions has been a priority of the Cambridge His- torical Commission since the late 1970s, when the demolition of the first Nathaniel Sawin house and The Greycroft at the corner of Chauncy Street caused the City Council to adopt the first dem- olition delay ordinance in Massachusetts.

The generous zoning and large size of the lot places the Saunders house at risk, although the same factors would also make possible the accommodation of new housing in an addition or in a separate building. Lesley University announced the pending sale of the Saunders house along with seven nearby houses on Mellen Street in September 2021.

At the October 7, 2021 hearing of the Historical Commission the Executive Director advised that the Saunders property was particularly vulnera- ble to redevelopment because of its large size and favorable C-2A zoning. The existing house took up only about half the lot, while the remainder was a parking lot.

Initiation of a landmark designation study might discourage redevelopment of the entire site and preserve it for sympa- thetic reuse, such as for an affordable housing project similar to Frost Terrace at 1789-1791 Mas- sachusetts Avenue. The Commission voted to initiate a landmark designation study, but since no public notice had been given the staff scheduled a public hearing for a subsequent meeting so the owner and the public could receive adequate notice.

On November 10, 2021, the Commission held a public hearing on the proposed designation study. Lesley University, which was still the owner, did not object and the Commission voted unani- mously to confirm the October 7 vote that initiated the study. The effect of the Commission’s vote was to protect the building from inappropriate alterations for up to one year, or until October 6, 2022, while the Commission formulated a recommendation to the City Council.

In early November 2021, a representative of Homeowners Rehab, Inc., a non-profit affordable housing agency, informed CHC staff that HRI was exploring the possibility of acquiring the prop- erty. CHC staff responded that the Commission had acknowledged the suitability of the site for affordable housing construction, as long as the house was protected. HRI closed on the property at the end of March 2022, and began design development discussions with Icon Architecture and CHC staff.

Commission staff advised HRI that a schematic design for new construction and renovation of the house could be incorporated into the Commission’s landmark designation report, giving assurance to HRI and other city boards that development for affordable housing could proceed. HRI agreed with this approach but needed more time for community consultation and design development.

With HRI’s consent to CHC’s continued jurisdiction, on September 8, 2022 the Commission voted to extend the study period for an additional nine months, or until May 8, 2023. In January and February 2023 CHC and Community Development Department staff engaged with HRI and their architects in an informal design review exercise. In the meantime, HRI engaged the public, most recently on March 15, 2023. CHC staff agreed that the proposed design was well- 4

developed and recommended that HRI apply for a conditional Certificate of Appropriateness for consideration at the landmark designation hearing scheduled for March 30, 2023. On March 30, the Historical Commission reviewed the Preliminary Landmark Designation Report as well as HRI’s application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction of affordable housing and renovation of the house, as described on pp. 16-20 of this report.

The Commission voted unanimously to approve the new construction and renovation in principle, with the understanding that the design would undergo further evolution in consultation with other boards and that HRI would return for final approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness. With no objection from the owner, the Commission also voted unanimously to approve the Preliminary Report and to recommend that the City Council designate the Saunders property as a Cambridge Landmark.