[MassHistPres] Report on UMass Historic Buildings

[larson at tei.umass.edu]

 The writer who mentioned that Conservation Commissions did not get respect
until they were given local authority is correct. Historical Commissions do not
have authority over state owned college and university campuses in their towns.
These campuses, especially the state college and the UMass Amherst flagship
campus have a number of historically significant buildings whose fate may or
may not be influenced by the town HC. The role of the local HC needs to be
strengthened in state law.

 A private group, Preserve UMass, working with the Amherst Historical Commission
and MHC is engaged in prolonged negotiations with a campus administration that
has been out of compliance with state law requiring notice to MHC on
construction projects. Along with that problem we have discovered that the
UMass Building Authority, the contracting arm of the UMass Trustees has been
equally non-compliant.

 I think that there may be value in organizing a symposium for campus
administrators and the local Historical Commissions to begin to address the
loss of significant structures by neglect and to discuss imaginative ways that
have been successful in preserving these kind of buildings.

To illustrate the UMass Amherst problem I attach a recent report.

Joseph S. Larson
Corresponding Secretary
Preserve UMass
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