[MassHistPres] demolition by neglect by-laws

[Chris Skelly]

In Massachusetts, Lowell, Nantucket and Newton have a demolition by
neglect ordinance.  
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Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of SCeccacci at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 5:42 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] demolition by neglect by-laws

Several historic buildings listed on Preservation  Worcester's Most 
Endangered lists over the past few years have been  condemned recently
as unsafe and 
ordered demolished by the City of  Worcester.  If the owners will not or
cannot 
repair these buildings, the  City requires demolition.  All have arrived
at 
their current state as a  result of lack of care and maintenance over
several 
years' time.  In some  cases, we have actually seen the deterioration
occur 
right before our  eyes.  Most can be considered cases of "Demolition by
Neglect".  
 
Although Worcester has a Demolition Delay ordinance, it does not include

provisions to prevent demolition by neglect.  Such an ordinance might
have  
helped prevent the deterioration of these buildings to such a point
that there is 
little other alternative to demolition. 
 
I am interested to know what cities and towns have demolition by neglect

by-laws, what are the provisions of their by-laws, how they are
administered,  
and how effective they are.
 
Susan McDaniel Ceccacci
Historic Preservation Consultant
Jefferson, Massachusetts



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