Historical Commission signs off on drywall storage structure at Home Depot

The Historical Commission voted to approve the construction of a small structure to store and sell drywall in the parking lot of the Home Depot at 100 First Ave. Bill Proia of Riemer & Braunstein served as legal representative for the company.

Proia explained that Waltham’s Home Depot is one of the busiest stores in the country for drywall sales; so much so that it is interfering with other business operations. The separate drywall sales structure will allow customers to drive inside the structure, pick up their drywall and drive out without entering the larger store.

The structure will take up a few extra parking spaces, which is why Home Depot is applying for a special permit from Waltham City Council. All city commissions and boards are required to sign off on a special permit.

Commission chair Mort Isaacson asked Proia if there would be traffic changes in the area due to the new drywall structure area. Proia explained that contractors pick up drywall during early morning hours on weekdays, so there is no anticipated conflict. Commission member and secretary Marie Daly affirmed that because the area the Home Depot is on was historically farmland and did not contain a historic structure, there are no conflicts. For this reason, the commission voted to sign off on the permit.

In other business, the commission discussed:

• Progress on restoration projects at Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate. Plastering, patching and painting is currently going on in the east wing of the house. Roof and patio repairs are set to start this spring when weather permits.
• The contents of a new tour brochure on the former Boston Manufacturing Company Mill Village in Waltham. Isaacson said one of the houses included in the brochure, the former Chauncey Newhall residence at 387-389 River St., may be demolished in the near future. The demolition delay on the Greek Revival-style house had expired and the owner was applying for a demolition permit. Isaacson said he chose to include the house in the brochure anyway because demolition is always a possibility and the brochure can serve as a historic record of the house. The new brochures will cost $885.91 to print and design and will be available at the Waltham Public Library, Waltham City Hall, the Waltham Museum and Waltham Government Center.