[MassHistPres] Stone Walls and Demo Delay

[Carol Carlson]

*Jack
Was this stone wall in a designated Historic District?  I'm thinking it 
was not, as the owner is building a garage which was approved by the 
Building Inspector without HDC approval (I presume).  I doubt, 
therefore, that there is much that anyone can do.  However, if it sits 
in a LHD, then the town would have cause for legal action.    Bedford 
took a builder to court many years ago over the removal of a stone wall 
to give a 2nd access to a new development behind historic district 
property, and won the case.  Stone walls are indeed precious and should 
never be removed without discussion and approval with the town's 
Historical Commission or HDC.   I have sympathy for you and beautiful 
Bourne Village.
Carol M Carlson
Bedford, MA HDC
*
jack mac donald wrote:
>
> To Any Historic Stone Wall People,
>
>  
>
> A homeowner in historic Bourne Village demolished approximately 150 
> feet of an 8 foot high cut and feather wedged granite retaining wall 
> built in the 1870's.  Of course he's now building his 3 bay trophy 
> garage.  We have a Demo Delay bylaw that I encompasses "an entire 
> historic (75 years old or older) building or structure."  His permit 
> sailed through Town Hall without being flagged for demo delay and of 
> course this significant historical feature is fill somewhere.  The 
> Historic Commission can only revise the language in the bylaw for 
> future acts like this.  His neighbors are furious.  He did not 
> demolish a house but that wall in my mind was a significant feature of 
> the neighborhood.
>
>  
>
> Any suggestions?  What can I do?  His permit application did not 
> mention the demolition of this wall so in defense of our Inspector  
> (that's a 1^st !) he was unaware of this homeowner's intentions.
>
>  
>
> Jack Mac Donald
>
> Osprey Design Inc
>
> Restorations
>
> 508 317-8469
>
>  
>
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