[MassHistPres] Demo Delay Question

[Dennis De Witt]

On the other hand, as a matter of strict policy, Brookline only  
considers the significance of the building to be demolished and will  
not look at or consider the replacement until we get into the  
mitigation phase,  Thus the replacement proposal will not color our  
judgment re the existing building at the determination of significance  
phase.  (Must be the difference between a big city and a small town.)

Dennis De Witt


On Aug 25, 2007, at 5:03 PM, Sullivan, Charles M. wrote:

> The Cambridge Historical Commission always evaluates the replacement
> structure when deciding whether the existing building is preferably
> preserved or not (see Cambridge City Code, Ch. 2.78, Article II;
> http://bpc.iserver.net/codes/cbridge/index.htm? 
> tnltext=City%20Ordinances
> ).
>
> The code defines a "Preferably preserved significant building" as "any
> significant building which the Commission determines, as provided in
> Section 2.78.090D of this chapter, that it is in the public interest to
> be preserved or rehabilitated rather than to be demolished." We  
> consider
> that the public interest cannot be well served unless the Commission
> evaluates the character of the proposed replacement structure in the
> context of its surroundings.
>
> The Commission occasionally shortens a six month demolition delay for a
> preferably preserved significant building if the proponent is able to
> incorporate it into the replacement project or improve the design of  
> the
> replacement building.
>
> At the same time, we sometimes have to refrain from exercising undue
> control over the details of the replacement project. We do not consider
> that our mandate under the demolition delay ordinance includes the  
> finer
> points of design review, such as we would exercise in an historic
> district.
>
> Charles Sullivan
>
> ________________________________
> Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
> Cambridge Historical Commission
> 831 Massachusetts Avenue
> Cambridge, Mass.  02139
> 617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Stowell, Stephen
> Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:57 PM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Demo Delay Question
>
> 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