Panel splits 6-1 on church deck appropriateness

Other Committee · Meeting of August 20, 2026

WORCESTER — The Worcester Historical Commission voted 6-1 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for a new wood deck and egress door at 6 Ashland Street, after splitting 5-2 on waiving the demolition delay for the same unpermitted work. Pleasant Street Baptist Church had already been fined $1,400 for building the deck without a permit before contractor Charles Crover brought the design to the board. Trustee Nancy Quinlan of the adjacent El Dorado Condominiums told commissioners the church tenants "are the worst neighbors we've had in 25 years," while Pastor Jordan Rivera said he left a 7,000-member New Orleans congregation "for a mission" and takes no salary.

The board separately approved a demolition delay waiver for new vinyl windows at 58 Elm Street and continued a review of 20 Washington Square to October 29. Commissioner Gutierrez-Lavoti dissented on both 6 Ashland Street votes.

In the full story:

• Old business: 1 Westminster Street continuance
• 58 Elm Street: vinyl window replacement
• 6 Ashland Street: Pleasant Street Baptist Church egress door and deck
• Other business: MHRTC letters of support
• Other business: referral items with no comment
• 20 Washington Square: ongoing demolition delay status
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,941 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.