[MassHistPres] Town Hall Renovation Success/Failure stories

[Dennis De Witt]

Alison

You might take a look at the Holliston Town Hall which a few years  
ago was much like what you described -- well restored exterior with  
tired, ad hoc, not-to-code interior.  The two lower levels, where the  
offices are, has been completely reconfigured to make pleasant  
functional offices especially for those functions involving public  
interface -- I don't think there was much old worth saving down there  
-- while the hall above has been retained for public meetings.  It  
had not been subdivided.  Other offices are off site.

I know that the abutting town of Ashland has also done much needed  
exterior work on their town hall but I don't know about the  
interior.  It's so close, it would be worth taking a look.

I wonder if Chris could ask MHC staff for a list of MHC preservation  
awards for town halls involving the interiors.

Dennis De Witt


On May 12, 2007, at 8:29 AM, Alison Hardy, Window Woman wrote:

> The Town of Topsfield is once again reviewing the issue of housing  
> town government. Our 1873 Town Hall received a glorious exterior  
> renovation a few years back making it a jewel on the Town Common.  
> However, the interior is in a sad state. Offices are cramped and  
> inconvenient, meeting space is negligible, and the second floor  
> great hall is a warren of dividing panels that sort of make up  
> offices but with no privacy to conduct business and no access for  
> the disabled.
> Studies have been done over the last two decades, designs proposed,  
> and without exception all have failed to receive the votes for  
> funding. So we're starting the process again. I am hoping to put  
> together data from other towns that have renovated their Town Halls  
> to provide some comparative information and context. Actually, any  
> advice on experience with accomodating town goverment in the modern  
> age in an antique structure would be welcome.
>
> Alison Hardy
> Topsfield Historic Commission
>
>
> Alison Hardy
> Window Woman of New England
> www.window-woman-ne.com
> 978-561-1062
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact  
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO  
> THE WHOLE LIST.
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************