[MassHistPres] Randolph property

Wed Apr 8 12:11:26 EDT 2009

Terry, 

I think a curatorship -type program might work for this situation.
While the state enabling legislation requires our program to select
curators based on an open and competitive selection process, a
municipality would, I believe, only be bound by its own procurement
regulations.  It would seem to be in the property's best interest,
however, to go through a public bidding process, as it will encourage
more competitive bids.  Let me know if you would like some more
information on the basics of DCR's program. I do know of at least 10
other communities and non-profits that have made agreements with Curator
/ tenants who have exchanged rehab services and some form of public
benefit (tour opportunities/ allowing community groups to use the site
for periodic meetings / events, etc).  Good luck!

Kevin M. Allen
Historic Curatorship Program Manager
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway St., Boston, MA
617-626-1361

mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/curator/index.htm

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Possible Historic House Purchase in Randolph (Harnden Tavern)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:03:24 -0400
From: "Harnden Tavern" <htavern at townofwilmingtonma.com>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Possible Historic House Purchase in
	Randolph
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <753EC5E8155B465394002E65B6588298 at htavernPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Randolph's potential purchase of the "oldest house in town" is of great
interest to us here in Wilmington, MA.  We actually own a first period
house, the William Butters II House, that the town was able to purchase
a couple of years ago with grant money to forestall a planned
demolition.  The Wilmington Historical Commission has been instrumental
in bringing public attention to this issue and raising money for the
preservation of the building.  We have no CPA in our town to back up our
efforts.

The gentleman from Randolph has the same goal for the Randolph house as
the Wilmington Historical Commission has for its Butters house:  "....
our goal would be to eventually rent the house to a tenant who could
maintain the house and carry out part of the restoration work, and open
it periodically for historical tours."   Mr. Tucker states, as have
people in Wilmington, that this could be expensive.  However, what about
the concept of a long term lease?   Although we have only begun to look
into this issue and can't claim to have studied it extensively, we have
been told that this is what the state Dept. of Conservation and
Recreation does with some of its state owned properties.  Tenants pay
negligible rent, have a place to live, in return the maintain and even
rehabilitate the building.  Does anyone have experience with this
concept?  And if the property is leased out, is it still subject to
municipal bidding regulations?  Thanks in advance for any information!

Terry McDermottCurator
Wilmington Town Museum at the
Col. Joshua Harnden Tavern, c.1770
430 Salem Street
Wilmington, MA  01887
978.658.5475
htavern at town.wilmington.ma.us
http://www.town.wilmington.ma.us/old/hist.htm

The Wilmington Historical Commission can also be reached at the above
addresses and phone number.

----- Original Message -----
  From: Henry Cooke
  To: Skelly, Christopher @ SEC ; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
  Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 4:44 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Possible Historic House Purchase in Randolph

  Chris and all,

  The Randolph Historical Commission was contacted last week on a bank
forclosure sale of the oldest house in Randolph, constructed in 1726. It
is a center chimney cape, with original features from the initial
construction and two sugsequent additions/renovations in 1778 and c1830.
The house was purchased about four years ago by a local builder who
balked at the cost of upgrades, and essentially sat on the house,
perhaps hoping to have it deteriorate to the point where it would need
to be torn down.  It has some condition concerns, like some rot in the
north wall that is causing some sidewall buckling and floor support
deterioration,  but much could be stabilized with the replacement of the
existing shingles  and repairs to parts of the roof that have
deteriorated from lack of maintenance.

  Realtor handling the sale it trying to work with us to insure it
either goes to someone who will restore it or to the Town of Randolph.
There is possibility that the bank may write it off to the Town, but we
can't assume that will happen. Realtor is an old house buff, who is
concerned that the house will be purchased by a builder who will buy it
to tear down. Because the realtor is handling the sale for the bank. I
would imagine there are limits to what he can do to make sure it goes to
the "right" buyer. 

  The Commission will be meeting this evening to visit the house and
discuss possibility of application for CPA funds to purchase the
property.  If the Commission gets the house, we would still have to
stabilize it, and restore it, and would have to find funding for that as
well.  If all this came to pass, our goal would be to eventually rent
the house to a tenant who could maintain the house and carry out part of
the restoration work, and open it periodically for historical tours.
Unfortunately, the Historical Society does not have deep pockets either.
If we were successful in getting CPA funding, could this be used as a
match for an MPPF grant application, or National Trust administered
grant?

  In looking at all our options, are there other resources that are
available to commissions without a lengthy application process?  Looking
longer term, what other grants are available for restoration besides
those offered by National Trust and MHC?  

  We would appreciate any advice or suggestions from those who have been
down this path.

  Thanks
  Henry Cooke
  Chairman,
  Randolph Historical Commission
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