To the editor:
In the May 22, issue of the Marblehead Weekly News, a front-page article was published titled, “Neighbors air concerns regarding Gingerbread Hill Plans.” The article relates to a proposed home renovation (“the Project”) by Andrew and Dana Bull at property they own at 9 and 11 Gingerbread Hill. The Bulls lived at their property on Gingerbread Hill for a period of time until their family outgrew their home. They moved to a larger home in Marblehead with the intention of returning to Gingerbread Hill in the future. As Gingerbread Hill is a Historic District, the Project is under review by the Old and Historic Districts Commission (“the Commission”).
The author of the article described the proceedings at a public meeting before the Commission on May 20 (“the Meeting”). In addition, the author detailed concerns about the Project raised by Ed and Kate Birtwell, abutters to the Project, in a letter the Birtwells provided to the author and to Gingerbread Hill residents and residents of some nearby streets the week prior to the public meeting.
A correction to the article that needs to be made relates to the statements regarding the disposition of the existing buildings on 9 and 11 Gingerbread Hill. The cottage to be preserved and protected is the fisherman’s cottage on 9, not 11, Gingerbread Hill. The cottage on 11 Gingerbread Hill is the one that would be renovated to make the Bull’s new home.
Readers of the Birtwell’s letter and the article might conclude that there is overwhelming support on Gingerbread Hill for the Birtwell’s objections to the Project. That is not true. I am a more than three decades resident of Gingerbread Hill and I support the Bulls and their Project. Many other residents of Gingerbread Hill, some even longer-time residents than me, with whom I am neighbors and with whom I have spoken, also support the Bulls and the Project.
As Ed Birtwell explained at the Meeting, their primary concern is the size of the Project. However, as Chairman Hibbard explained, the Commission does not have authority to consider the size of a project in its evaluation of the appropriateness of a project. That limitation is established by both a 1965 law of the Commonwealth authorizing the Marblehead historic districts and the Town’s own bylaws. Even so, the size of the proposed Project would be no larger than several existing homes on Gingerbread Hill. While the Gingerbread Hill historic district includes several small cottages, much larger homes have existed and been built on the street over the years and there is considerable architectural diversity.
The Birtwell’s letter also spoke of their concern about the potential adverse impact any blasting might have on their property as well as other properties on Gingerbread Hill and potentially other nearby streets. At the Meeting, the Bull’s architect stated that there will be no blasting associated with the Project.
Another concern raised by the Birtwell’s relates to overflow of water from Black Joe’s Pond. The discharge of water from Black Joe’s Pond flows through a ditch and culvert that passes under Gingerbread Hill well above the location of the Birtwell’s property and the location of the Project. Given that fact, it is unclear how any discharge of water from Black Joe’s Pond could impact the Birtwell’s property, the Bull’s property, or any other property on Gingerbread Hill.
Another concern raised by the Birtwell’s relates to groundwater flow across the property of the Project suggesting that the renovation of the existing home might create flooding issues. Most, if not all, of us who live on Gingerbread Hill experience groundwater issues from time-to-time because of the ledge upon which our homes are built. There are engineering solutions to address such issues, and I would expect that the Bull’s architect and the Town’s Engineering Department will coordinate on that issue.
The Birtwell’s have sought to rally folks behind their opposition to the Project. Their interest in preserving and protecting the values that make
Gingerbread Hill unique is shared by all of us. But, at the latest count, with several residents not counted, 10 of the 21 homeowners on the “Hill” believe that the Bull’s project is very much in keeping with those values that we all hold dear.
The Bulls strongly and sincerely wish to return to Gingerbread Hill and many of us on the “Hill” want to see them do that.
Craig Campbell
Gingerbread Hill
