Middletown Design Review & Preservation Board Meeting – September 9, 2026
Middletown Design Review & Preservation Board Regular Meeting
Date: September 9, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM (called to order at 5:06 PM)
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall
The board considered four new business items: a residential carport/shed, a YMCA addition/renovation, and two commercial developments on Washington Street involving demolition of existing dwellings. Public comments focused on preserving the historic Southmaid House (c. 1739) at 797 Washington Street. All items were approved, with conditions on materials and preservation.
Consent Calendar
- None (all items were discussed individually).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Christina Wasch (Chair, Middletown Sustainability Commission; President, Jonas Center for Earth and Art; member, Historical Society) spoke in favor of preserving the Southmaid House at 797 Washington Street. She detailed its historical significance (Beers Southmaid funeral home, connection to Judge Seth Wetmore House, early female physician Dr. Lucy Waterman Southmaid) and urged either on-site retention or a guarantee that the house be rebuilt after dismantling. She noted that Middletown lost many historic structures during urban renewal, while Newburyport’s preservation later boosted tourism.
- Renee Treber (Chair, Historic Preservation Committee, Middlesex County Historical Society) emphasized the architectural rarity of the Southmaid House (one of only six center‑chimney colonials built 1735–1745 remaining in town). She supported on‑site reuse or, if dismantled, reconstruction within Middletown.
- Steve Beelitz (Preservationist, 40+ years experience; head of preservation for Glastonbury) reported that after inspecting the house three times, he found it structurally sound and easy to restore. He advocated keeping it on site as office space or, if moved, having the developer (Chick‑fil‑A) contribute to its relocation. He noted the house is a “beauty” and could be the second‑oldest in Middletown.
- Bill Howard (Retired attorney, involved in the 1970s “Save the South Green” lawsuit) supported preservation, citing the loss of historic buildings during urban renewal. He argued that a drive‑in restaurant adds little to New England ambiance and that this house cannot be replaced.
Discussion Items
4.1 – Proposed Carport and Shed at 208 College Street (DVD Zone)
Applicant Jeff Bianco requested approval for a detached combined carport and shed to accommodate aging‑in‑place needs. The structure would be minimally visible behind existing trees (Japanese maple, possibly a large maple). Materials: vertical wood siding (T‑111 or cedar), dark stain, asphalt shingles matching the house. Board members asked for final color selection and material clarity. The applicant agreed to submit a color sample to staff.
4.2 – YMCA Exterior Design at 85 Union Street (MXC Zone)
Project architect Rock Patito (QA+M) presented a revised design after earlier 2024 submission. Changes included: removal of a roof deck, reduction of glass, and addition of square footage. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviewed and approved the design, as the YMCA is deemed historically significant and SHPO contributed $5 million. Materials: metal panel (white), brick samples, EIFS (on less visible elevations), and storefront glazing. Board members noted the EIFS locations and accepted the design given SHPO’s oversight.
4.3 & 4.4 – Demolition and New Construction at 797 & 809 Washington Street (B‑2 Zone)
Discussed jointly. Attorney Rich Carella (Updike, Kelly & Spellacy) represented owners Evan and Scott O’Brien. The combined 2.55‑acre site would be regraded (20‑foot grade change) to accommodate:
- 4.4 (809 Washington Street): 2,500 SF credit union (Dutch Point Credit Union) with a 2‑lane drive‑through. The existing 1960s cape will be demolished. Dutch Point currently operates in a 1,700 SF basement space with no visibility or drive‑through; the new branch would better serve city employees and residents. Chamber of Commerce voted in support.
- 4.3 (797 Washington Street): 5,020 SF quick‑service restaurant (likely Chick‑fil‑A) with a 2‑lane drive‑through. The existing 1739 Southmaid House saltbox and barn would be removed. Attorney Carella detailed a preservation plan: a contract with William Butterley (20‑year experience, historic barn/restoration specialist) to dismantle, catalog, and store the house, then rebuild it in Guilford or Madison, CT within a few years. Butterley’s past projects include moving 1750s houses from New Hampshire and Maine. The board expressed concern about enforceability; the attorney stated the city could require documentation before issuing a building permit. The development also includes intersection improvements (new signal, turning lanes, elimination of Liberty Bank’s current exit), dark‑sky compliant LED lighting, street trees (eastern redbud), and sidewalks. Stormwater management meets 2024 CT Standards.
The board voted separately on 4.4 first, then 4.3.
Key Outcomes
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4.1 – Carport/Shed (208 College Street): Approved (motion by Wendy Smith, seconded). Condition: final color selection and material details to be submitted to staff for review.
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4.2 – YMCA Exterior (85 Union Street): Approved (motion by Wendy Smith, seconded). Board noted confidence in SHPO review.
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4.4 – Credit Union at 809 Washington Street: Approved (motion by Wendy Smith, seconded). Unanimous (all in favor).
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4.3 – Restaurant at 797 Washington Street: Approved (motion by Wendy Smith, seconded). Conditions: (1) the Southmaid House must be dismantled and preserved per the Butterley contract, not demolished; (2) documentation of the dismantling process (mapping, numbering) to be provided to the city; (3) a building permit for the new restaurant will not be issued until the house is removed and documented. The board also noted that the final design, materials, and colors for the restaurant building will be subject to future review by the Design Review & Preservation Board.
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Minutes of June 10, 2026 regular meeting: Approved unanimously.
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Adjournment: 7:00 PM (estimated).
Meeting Transcript
I don't think that's what it's like. Oh, so that's next door to regular. Oh, no, all it's uh part of the uh it's it's usually not as bad as it was like that's what I'm saying. This meeting is being transcribed and summarized. Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting to order at five oh six. Um the agenda is public comments for items on the agenda. Do we have anybody for the agenda or not on the agenda? For items on the agenda. Excuse me, everybody, we're getting started. Good evening. I'm Chrishna Winston. I'm speaking as chair of the Middletown Sustainability Commission, as president of the Jonas Center for Earth and Art Board, and as a member of the board of the Historical Society. And I want to address item um, I think it's four point three, the demolition of the South Maid House on Washington Street. From the sustainability point of view, we should be preserving our historic structures. It was quite a prominent family. And in fact, I will show you Liberty Bank. It just had its 250th anniversary. And they featured quite prominently Samuel Southmate, E.G. Southmaid, because the bank was founded in Mr. Southmate's pharmacy. And his pharmacy eventually became Peltons. And so I know those of you who have been around for a while remember Pelton's drugstore. Dozens and dozens of the Southmaid family members are buried in our old cemeteries as well as some of our newer ones. Well, it originally started out as the Beers Southmaid funeral home and then became the Southmaid Doolittle funeral home, and then eventually the Do Littles completely bought out the Southamates. So that name is really quite prominent in town, as well as I will point out that the Judge Seth Wetmore House up the street, which is certainly one of our most historic houses. His granddaughter married Giles Southmade. And one of their children, Dr. Lucy Waterman Southmade, was a graduate of the New England Female Medical College in 1867, so was a very early female doctor. And her daughter was a suffragist and went on to run for vice president of the United States in the 1930s. So we're talking about a family here that certainly needs to be remembered. I will say in terms of preservation. Middletown got money. And so what happened was from Union to court on the east side of the street, Main to the river, every single historic house was torn down. Several were saved and moved up near the South Green by John Reynolds, but otherwise they were all torn down. Newberry Port didn't get any money. And so they were sitting there for another 10 years, and 10 years later, the idea of preservation took hold across the nation. And so now Newberry Port with all of its historic structures is now a tourist destination, which we certainly could have been if we didn't tear everything down. So I understand I was just speaking with uh attorney Corella who said that they have plans to uh dismantle the uh the Southmaid House and uh move it somewhere else, reconstruct it. And so um if you um do say they can demolish it or take it down, uh could you at least put in a caveat that it does get rebuilt because it this house really needs to be saved. It's architecturally significant and it's historically significant. In fact, when the judge Seth Wetmore House was built up the street, the enslaved Africans who uh built the built the foundation uh walked down the street and they slept in this particular house that's before you tonight. So a lot of history is there. So please please consider that. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Renee Treber. I live at 10 Coval Hill Drive in Portland, Connecticut, but I am a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society Board, and I'm chairman of that the Society's Historic Preservation Committee, and speaking tonight on with regards to 797 Washington Street. It's uh only one of about a half a dozen center chimney colonials uh that were built within the 10-year period between 1735 and 1745 that remain today in town.
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