[MassHistPres] Demolition Delay Bylaw Defeated

[Marcia Starkey]

Hello,
Greenfield has an ordinance applicable only to National Register buildings 
and districts, but some are still very suspicious of it. Councillors shake 
their heads and say the law is complicated. Other officials say we assume 
too much authority. Still others would give us complete latitude to delay 
any building.
This must be related to the degree of regard the community has for its "on 
the ground" history. Others have pointed out that as a nation we now try to 
stand out rather than fit in with the community. That's a fundamental change 
in stance which seems to help us conveniently forget that property value is 
partly derived through surrounding neighbors and areas.
Marcia Starkey
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RobynBFernald at aol.com>
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 7:26 AM
Subject: [MassHistPres] Demolition Delay Bylaw Defeated


> The Town of Abington defeated the Demolition Delay Bylaw at its annual
> meeting of 2007. Disappointment is a rather gentle term to describe  how 
> the AHC
> feels. The debate became rather heated and the intend and  purpose of the 
> bylaw
> was lost in translation. And it became rather clear that  our reasonable
> responses to get back on tract were not heard nor  considered. The AHC 
> held
> informational meetings ,broadcast several PR  shows and produced an 
> Demolition delay
> bylaw DVD in our year  long PR campaign hoping to enlighten the 
> townspeople We
> strongly urged  for feedback concerns and or any grievances concerning the
> bylaw. WE had  only 5 people that responded throughout the year long 
> campaign so
> it  was extremely surprising that at the town meeting many voiced their
> strong and  somewhat off course opinions against the demo delay..Our 
> loudest
> opponents were  the builders and homeowners who feared they could not sell 
> their
> homes. The AHC  realizes that other communities have faced similar defeats 
> and
> possibly similar reasons for the defeat. The AHC will be regrouping on 
> this
> matter but would like some advice as to how to proceed from this point on. 
> It
> appears that one of the major flaws in the demo delay by law is the lack 
> of
> understanding it and not what is written. A weakness in  conveying? on our 
> part
> the AHC is not sure. So if there are other  communities that have found
> themselves in this same situation the AHC would love  to hear from you!
>
> Thanks
> Robyn B Fernald
> Chair of the AHC
> 781-982-0059
>
>
>
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