Four phases. One White House, rebuilt.

Hazardous materials walkthrough complete; original clapboard discovered

The hazardous materials report on the White House exterior is back, with two findings that shape the next phase of work.

First, lead paint was identified on the exterior and will require formal abatement before siding work can begin. This was expected given the building's age, and the abatement scope is already factored into Pearl Harvest Group's bid. PHG and Parker have a track record on older historic homes, so this is a known process rather than a surprise.

Second, and more interesting: when the GC opened up an inspection point, original clapboard was discovered underneath the existing aluminum siding. This is a real wrinkle, because our approved Historic Commission plan calls for removing the existing exterior and replacing it with James Hardie clapboard plank. With original wood clapboard now in evidence, the Commission has the option to require us to preserve and restore it instead.

Here's the path forward we're working:

• The general contractor is cutting a 6x6 sample section this week to assess the actual condition of the underlying clapboard.
• A walkthrough with the Worcester Historical Commission is scheduled within the next three days to review the find together.
• Architect Jesse Hilgenberg's working expectation is that the underlying clapboard is significantly deteriorated, which would support keeping the original plan to install Hardie. Deteriorated original material is generally not what the Commission wants to mandate restoring.
• The discovery clause built into the permit drawings (requiring the contractor to notify the architect if historic siding is found) is the exact protocol that triggered this review. The system worked as designed.

Construction timeline is still tracking to a June 1 start. The week-by-week plan from the contractor has each side of the house at roughly one week of siding work, so the full envelope sequence is on the order of a month once crews mobilize.

We'll post the outcome of the Historical Commission walkthrough as soon as we have it.

Pearl Harvest Group signed; first payment locked in for April 1

The Board signed the construction contract with Pearl Harvest Group (PHG) and finalized the payment schedule. The first payment of $90,000 is due April 1, covering the downpayment on windows and siding materials so the long-lead items are ordered before crews mobilize. Eli also worked with PHG to produce a two-page Scope of Work summary that was distributed at the March 7 alumni meeting. With the contract executed and materials on order, the project is officially out of the planning phase.

Two bids in; architect confirms scope alignment

Two formal bids came back against Jesse Hilgenberg's permit drawings: Pearl Harvest Group and Madigan, with Madigan roughly $150K higher. Eli, Jesse, and PHG's president Parker met to walk the bid line by line and confirm everything tracks with the permitted scope. Within the original $300K budget, the team also folded in a few additions (front door replacement and 3rd-floor dormer insulation) by trading down on window brand selection. A $20K contingency for fire escape code upgrades is being carried separately, and a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment is in flight that could unlock up to a 75% insulation rebate. Final bid acceptance is pending one last scope review.

Permit drawings approved; project goes out to bid

The Worcester Historical Commission has signed off on the final 14-sheet permit drawing set for the White House exterior. Architect Jesse Hilgenberg (AIA, NCARB) and his team at Dixon Salo Architects in Worcester carried the project through schematic design (March), design development (June), and bid drawings (October).

The exterior wall assembly is a complete re-skin: demo the existing aluminum siding, plywood sheathing, and old cavity insulation; keep the existing 2x4 wood studs and the interior lath and plaster; then build back with closed-cell spray foam in the entire cavity, 5/8" Zip Panel sheathing (taped), a Benjamin-Obdyke HydroGap self-adhered weather barrier, and James Hardie clapboard plank siding (smooth, 4" exposure, Arctic White). The Hardie board siding is a Worcester Historical Commission requirement to preserve the original wood look.

Windows across all four elevations are being replaced with triple-pane Low-E units (Andersen A-Series equivalent, U-value 0.27, SHGC 0.40), composite exterior with wood interior, and simulated divided lites to keep the period appearance. The original dentalwork, frieze boards, corner boards, decorative roof edge trim, and porch soffit detailing are all being preserved, sanded, and repainted rather than replaced.

The plans also build in a discovery clause requiring the contractor to notify the architect if original historic siding is found beneath the existing exterior, which sets up Historic Commission protocol before anything gets removed. Plans are now out to bid, with construction targeted for May 2026. Code compliance items (notably the fire escape) are being scoped into bid contingencies up front so we don't get surprised mid-project.