[MassHistPres] Demo Delay Question

[Dennis De Witt]

Jim

We are a combined commission -- so, if I follow your meaning, we also 
do the review ourselves.  The review is assigned to a sub-committee 
including one or two architects.

Dennis


On Aug 24, 2007, at 7:43 AM, James Hadley wrote:

> Here in Orleans we conventionally perform the review ourselves, the 
> incentive is striongest right there and then.
> Jim Hadley, Chair, Orleans HisCom
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis De Witt" <djdewitt at rcn.com>
> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 7:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Demo Delay Question
>
>
>> Presumably your bylaw permits waving the delay in exchange for
>> mitigation, if preservation appears to be impossible.
>>
>> On a few occasions, where it was evident that the developer would 
>> "time
>> out" the delay, we and the developer agreed to a process of design
>> review based on our LHD guidelines in exchange for an early lifting of
>> the delay, as mitigation for the loss of the building.  Obviously, the
>> Commission's position is not the same as in an LHD review.  The
>> developer can always opt to wait out the delay if the process doesn't
>> lead to a design he can live with, so there may be compromises on both
>> sides.  The longer the delay, the more the leverage.  Thus far we have
>> only done it with 12 month delays.  Our new 18 month delays for NR
>> properties would have somewhat more leverage.  That also means that it
>> is most effective if put on the table early in the process.   Of
>> course, exchanging design review for demolition is, at best, the least
>> worst alternative.
>>
>> In one case, involving a somewhat compromised Victorian on a large lot
>> being replaced by two sets of rather bulky twin houses, we 
>> accomplished
>> more in terms of siting and massing than in terms of appearance -- 
>> still more of a builder aesthetic than we would have wanted.
>>
>> In another case, where we exchanged design review of two new houses 
>> for
>> the loss of a nice brick 1920s garage, the developer had a better
>> architect who produced good Colonial Revival designs that fit into
>> their 1920s context, but he occasionally told us that his numbers
>> wouldn't give us what we wanted -- e.g. wood vs metal garage doors
>> (altho we got them facing away from the street).  As it happened, this
>> was one of three demo cases that triggered the creation of an LHD in
>> that neighborhood and it may have been helpful for the creation of the
>> LHD for people in the neighborhood to observe the design review
>> process.
>>
>> In a third case (in that same neighborhood) the developer actually
>> agreed to binding LHD-guideline design review of a new house, in
>> exchange for the demolition of the wing of an existing house, because
>> the creation of an LHD was in process and he was concerned that if it
>> passed he would get nothing (no demolition of the wing).  The
>> neighborhood strongly supported this option because while it wanted to
>> save the wing, it was even more concerned about what might have been
>> built if the LHD had not passed and there had been no design review of
>> the replacement.
>>
>> Dennis De Witt
>> Brookline
>>
>>
>> On Aug 22, 2007, at 2:56 PM, Stowell, Stephen wrote:
>>
>>> Can an Historical Commission, as a condition of waiving demolition
>>> delay and thus allowing demolition, require that what replaces the
>>> demolished structure be subject to design review and approval by the
>>> local body?  A colleague asked me this today and not being 
>>> well-versed
>>> in the intricacies of demo delay, thought I would throw it out there.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> ------------
>>> Preserve America Community
>>>
>>> National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Preservation Honor
>>> Award
>>>
>>> National Trust for Historic Preservation Distinctive Destination
>>> Community
>>>
>>> Stephen Stowell
>>> Administrator
>>> Lowell Historic Board
>>> JFK Civic Center
>>> 50 Arcand Drive
>>> Lowell, MA  01852
>>> (978) 446-7200 x1443
>>> (978) 970-4262 fax
>>> Sstowell at lowellma.gov
>>> www.historiclowell.net
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Dennis J. De Witt
>>
>> djdewitt at rcn.com
>> 617-620-9776
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact 
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO 
>> THE WHOLE LIST.
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>
>
Best regards,

Dennis J. De Witt

djdewitt at rcn.com
617-620-9776