[MassHistPres] John Henry/Red Sox owner Brookline teardown

[Dennis De Witt]

Anne

It is premature to comment on this specific case other than to say  
that the staff and chair have seen the two houses involved and will  
consider their merits -- there is no list or NR requirement for demo  
delay here.  If there is a preliminary determination of significance,  
the full commission will consider them at its November meeting.   
Because they are not NR listed, the maximum delay would be 12  
months.  The delay for NR listed buildings here is up to 18 months.

The fact that they are not NR listed does not necessarily say  
anything about these houses, both of which are the work of very  
distinguished firms of the time.  Rather, Brookline did a  
comprehensive NR survey in the late '70s, as a result of which most  
buildings built after the late '20s didn't make the 50 year cut for  
NR nominations.  We are in the process right now of updating the  
survey to cover the period ±1927-1957, looking both at buildings in  
NRDs that may have been considered non-contributing and outside of  
NRDs that were ignored.  Because of their date and architects, I  
imagine these would have qualified for possible consideration --  
possibly as part of an expanded NRD, as they abut one.

Ironically, they are directly across the street from the HH  
Richardson house, whose fate remains uncertain.

Dennis




On Sep 27, 2007, at 7:19 AM, Cupfish Cupfish wrote:

> I'm sure many of you have heard of Mr. Henry's proposed teardown of  
> what looks to be a reasonably significant historical mansion in  
> Brookline.  Dennis (et al) I was wondering if you had any comments  
> or updates for us?
>
> Anne Kornitsky
> Oakham
>
> here is today's latest:  http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/ 
> 14213031/detail.html
>