Marblehead solves Adams House stalemate

MARBLEHEAD – At the urging of a selectman, an architect and a restaurateur met briefly Wednesday and resolved their differences, a compromise which will allow a Front Street construction project to continue.The Adams House construction project includes a scaffolding permit which selectmen approved four months ago. But the work has taken longer than expected and Jay Sahagian, owner of The Barnacle Restaurant, told board members the project has taken a toll on his business.Bruce Greenwald, the architect for the facade upgrade at the upscale ocean-view condominium building, ran into a wall when he asked for a four-week extension of the permit, from April 1 to May 1.Sahagian told selectmen his business has been way off because the Front Street project temporarily closed three parking spaces next to his restaurant and people think all six of the parking spaces there are also closed. He said the people that come to The Barnacle complain that there?s no place to park and others think he?s closed.Selectman Mike Rockett told Greenwald, “This has been the worst year ever for restaurants because of the snow. I don?t think I can vote for this.”When Greenwald offered to finish the facade work by April 15 and reopen the three closed spaces Sahagian questioned whether the project had a large enough crew – a contention that project manager Mark Driscoll disputed – and Adams House trustee Jay Hamilton said the town permitting process had also delayed the project and shutting it down arbitrarily would cause problems for Adams House residents.Sahagian and selectmen asked if Driscoll would put up signs indicating that The Barnacle was open and the parking spaces could be used and the Adams House representatives said that should be Sahagian?s job.Selectman Judy Jacobi said the dispute seemed to indicate a lack of “neighborliness.”Rockett told both sides, “We can beat this to death.” He urged both sides to let selectmen continue the discussion for a few minutes, go into the corridor and arrive at a meeting of the minds.After a conference in the hall Greenwald offered to put up a sign as requested, and finish half the work by April 15 so that all six parking spaces would be available again.Selectmen approved the extension unanimously.