[MassHistPres] Demo delay applicability

[Alison Hardy, Window Woman]

Here in Topsfield new owners of a property want to tear down their beautiful 1830's English Tie Beam barn and put up an office structure. The previous owner had applied to do same citing bad condition of barn (it has been looked at by timber frame specialist and deemed quite salvagable). The HC issued a six month demo delay on the barn. The property was then sold to new people. They now also want to tear down the barn. My interpretation of the demo delay bylaw is that it is tied to a request for a building/demo permit and since the new owners would be requesting a demo permit they have to come before the HC again for review and possible demo delay. Even our building inspector isn't clear on if this process is correct. Any of you had similar occurances? Right now our town administrator has legal counsel reviewing so I'd like to see if there are any similar cases out there.

Thanks,
Alison Hardy
Topsfield Historic Commission


Alison Hardy
Window Woman of New England
www.window-woman-ne.com
978-561-1062