Town’s historic district commission gives Joseph Brito Sr. approval after work is complete
BRISTOL — The Bristol Historic District Commission gave property owner Joseph Brito Sr. permission to keep 34 windows, six sets of French doors and three floors of trim that were installed at a 162 Thames St. building in conflict with the town’s historic district standards. The unanimous decision came at the October meeting of the board.
The building, a 200-year-old structure that was gutted and renovated from top to bottom for several hundreds of thousands of dollars, is located across from Rockwell Park and Marina. It came on the historic district commission’s radar in August, when someone questioned the types of windows and doors installed in the building.
In 2007, the commission gave Mr. Brito approval to renovate the building and convert it into four apartments. The approved plans specified Pella Architect series windows, and the official minutes of the 2007 meeting describe “Pella true divided light wood windows.”
The plans also specified Pella French doors.
Builders did not follow the plans, however. They installed an Andersen series vinyl window and Bell-Vue fiberglass doors. The town did not discover the discrepancy until after construction was complete.
After the windows and doors were brought to the historic district commission’s attention, board members looked closer at the property and discovered that wood corner boards had been changed to Kleer Trimboards, a polymer product; and that 4x4-inch wood columns had been changed to 6x6-inch columns encased in vinyl.
Historically, vinyl has been a taboo product within the historic district. The board often insists property owners use wood products or hybrid wood/vinyl products during renovations.
At a September meeting of the historic district commission, board member David Andreozzi said of the installed windows: “They used the cheapest line of windows, with the inside grills stuck to the outside, not even the mullions. Of the columns and trim, he said, “They’re plastic, shiny, cheap square columns; there are plastic casings around the windows as well.”
Mr. Brito appeared at the board’s October meeting with John Grosvenor, president of the Newport Architectural Collaborative. They asked for the board’s permission to keep the substitute materials. Mr. Grosvenor told the board he thought the Andersen 400 series windows are “effectively identical” to the Pella windows, according to minutes of the meeting.
He also told the board that the Kleer trimboards have been accepted on other restoration projects. The board suggested those boards be painted, to make them look more like wood.
After commission members critiqued the appearance of the columns on the front facade of the building, Mr. Brito offered to remove the plastic casings and encase them in wood. The commission accepted that offer and gave unanimous approval to the windows, doors and trim that had been installed.
Mr. Andreozzi did not attend the October meeting. Asked his opinion of the final outcome of the project, Mr. Andreozzi said: “Without having the opportunity to hear the facts presented by the owner, I can only fully support the board’s decision. We are all very lucky to have such a diverse and dedicated team volunteers on our board.
“That said, as a Bristol resident and an architect that works in historic archetypes, my own personal opinion is that the final detailing of such a significant sized building to our urban fabric is a disaster in terms of its negative effect to the historic district. Its fake two-dimensional detailing will radiate its inappropriateness upon us all, ad infinitum. I guess there is an upside. It’s certainly something future generations can learn from.”
What a cheap horrible shame.
I guess money does talk. He know what he was doing. His father would be rolling in his grave. What a cheap horrible shame is correct.
Well it looks Mr. Andreozzi has a bee in his bonet. Poor little guy didn't get to infringe and force his will upon a home owner. He thinks this is a crime against humanity the way he talks. Does he own the home no, did he pay for the renovation no, did he pay the taxes no, does he pay the utilities no, does he pay the maintainence no, does he pay for lanscapers no.
Another example of someone trying to force their personal view and take away a home owners rights. Wonder who the low life was that complained in the first place. Oh mt God look it's the end of Bristol as we know it those don't look like approved windows and doors, quick the hysterical District Commission and Commisioner Andreozzi on the RED PHONE.
We have a crisis a home owner is trying to renovate their home with their own idea's of whats right, help help we must not allow people to have free thought to do what they wish to property they own. Quit worrying about it this Hysterical Commission Has the power to force our will no matter who they are we will take away their rights and force them to increase the cost of the project by 1000% if need be.
What ever it takes for us to force this lowly home owner to bow before us and do as they are told. Who is this Destroyer of Worlds that dares defy the Hysterical Commission Gods. It is Mr. Britto oh Holy one. Hmmm he has money is well know in the community, proably could sue us and win.
Ok he gets his way we have many many more home owners now in the new expansion and the next phases of expansion who don't have money to fight us, we will just keep screwing as many of those home owner as possible, it is our mandate destroy the right to do anything to any homeowner and through the gace of the Hysterical District we will soon control the entire Town Of Bristol.
Nice one Mr. Britto kudo's to you. The real shame of all this is the average homeowner can't get the same treatment with out a lawsuit they cannot afford.
Jack
And how many people would have noticed the differance
How many people would notice the Watchdan is on yet another screen name?
Hey look! The goofus unionized teacher that believes doing drugs is a religeon, CAN'T stop stalking me! No matter what the story is, his obsession with me becomes center stange in his doped-up brain. What a loser. I was probably hit with the ban hammer for calling him 'Rabbi Bro', when he was stalking me in another thread.
(He said once that he's a Jamaican-Jew, but gets all 'offended' when any one else says it, lol)
Hiya Jethro! Someone at EastBayRI is getting crazy with the ban button.
That building had replacement windows and vinyl doors in it before this renovation was started so in essence, they were merely replacing what was already there. It's an improvement over what was there 10 years ago and they complied with the HDC's wishes to replace the tacky plastic trim. Compromises? Yes. Win some, lose some. Unfortunately it's in an area that sees a lot of traffic. Let's just hope they rent it after putting so much money in to it.
Watrchdan, I just find it funny that you can't seem to stop getting your screen name pulled. How many is that four or five at least. As for me doing drugs, I would gladly take a urine test for you, why don't you come over and hold the cup. It seems that might be a position you are qualified for with all your fake miliatry service and boy scout awards. I don't get offended by anything that you say or any names you call me, but why keep referrring to my Judiasm and African American heritage when it has nothing to do with the context of any of our arguments. As any reader of this site could clearly see you have no respect for anyone with ideas different than your own. You make veiled threats and statements to people about their sexuality and race and then play toy soldier with Jethro. Lets see how long AKA Watchman can stick around before doing something stupid and offensive. My guess is no more than two weeks. Talk to you LittleWatchdan DanGordon Insultia GordonDaniels
So I guess the HDC just gave the green light for anyone to do what they want to their home.
Good Job Mr. Brito, you just let them open up a large can of worm's.
It's about time somebody won one of these battles. Who cares what material is used as long as it is safe and up to firecode, that is all that really matters. Bristol has been getting ridiculous with this push to rehab these outdated buildings that when they were built were considered low quality housing for low level workers. Why should people who buy these properties be forced to follow an idea that would have been laughed at by the people that built these properties.
The well built properties will be maintained by people who care about that quality, these other properties should actually be torn down as potential fire hazards to begin with and totally rebuilt with up to date coded materials.
Imagine, if the HDC has it's way with these new proposals to cover the whole town with this blanket of rules, the ugly tenement buildings that have blighted the landscape would have a permanent presence as they would have to be maintained exactly as they were built. Pretty soon apartments in this town would cost as much as the homes to live in.
It's a bout time someone opened that can of worms.
response to jaqdadi
You are correct any property over 50 years old comes under the iron fist of the HDC and this proves rules only apply at the whim of the borad members. If they run into someone with the power to fight them they cave in fast. This is the reason it should be Volontary so the average home owner who can't afford to fight them doesn't lose his property rights.
Jack
response to KidChourico
Doyou seriously believe that people should not be allowed to do what they want with their homes as long as they follow the building codes. And not be tied to a appointed non-elected beaurocrats to force the home owner to pay emormously higher cost using only the materials preapproved by them and their personal oppinon of what is has to look like, as if the payed and own your property.
Example of their stupidy are many re-read above, statement of paint modern maintainence free material with paint to make it look like wood. I'm sure that was used so it wouldn't have to be maintained with paint. and what kind of wood color is out there. Now that shows the pettiness of them.
Jack
I pity the homeowner in the district that can't afford the true divided pane windows, etc. It may be less expensive to just put a match to it. Not commit insurance fraud, but getting rid of a money pit.
No Jack, My point is the wrong precedent was set. I do enjoy the beautiful Bristol home's...but as far as the HDC goes, how credible will their descion's in the future.
Jack, I do believe the home owner should be able to do what he want's, providing he/she do follow the building code's.
Ok Kid my mistake but the HDC does things supposidly on a case by case basic so the argument of precident can't be used in a court of law in any case. It has been tried and doesn't work.
Thanks for the support on the doing what they want following the building codes.
Jack
Brito didn't win anything for the rest of the town, this was a setup. The last line from Andreozzi spells doom for anyone not following orders from them. He spells it out right here:
"I guess there is an upside. It’s certainly something future generations can learn from.”
When I move to Arizona I'm turning my historic home into a 30 bed rooming house for section eight families. Let the federal government pay all the taxes etc.
Response to downtown
Exactly on point and truth was never spoken so correctly. Rate things are going my family will be renting from you in Arizona.
Jack
Same old Bristol, even the HDC is on the take.
