[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 22

Mon Jun 8 00:08:05 EDT 2009

I have the same question as Mr. De Witt - do your Selectmen have 
authority over the decisions of your Historic District Commission?  I 
was under the impression that all HDCs had the final say in all matters 
under their jurisdiction, unless a petitioner takes the issue to the 
Superior Court in your county.  (Even then I have noted that the courts 
tend to side with local HDCs and preservation.)   Our Selectmen are 
behind us 100%, and would not, nor could not, overturn an HDC decision.  
If they could, why should the town bother with a volunteer Historic 
District Commission, or the District itself?

Carol M Carlson
Bedford, MA

Russel Feldman wrote:
> If the homeowner plans to claim that he's trying to be energy efficient with
> new double glazed windows, we believe this is not the case.
> Our analysis comparing single pane historic sash with a storm window versus
> a new double hung double glazed unit shows them to perform about the same
> from the standpoint of energy consumption, with a slight preference for
> historic windows.  The historic unit and storm actually performs a little
> better from the sash to the jamb however if the windows are truly double
> hung, the uninsulated pockets for the sash weights puts the system slightly
> lower when comparing the overall system.  However, if this house is 18th
> century the sash might not be hung at all and have jamb hardware to hold the
> sash up.  If that's the case, the historic windows are preferable for
> operating energy.  Another point is that the existing units are preferable
> for embodied energy - the existing units don't require fabrication and
> transportation of a new unit, costing energy.  
> If the windows are 19th century replacements, the sash cavity is a little
> bit of a problem but it can be mitigated by inserting a tube to run the sash
> weight through and you can foam the rest of the cavity.
> Good luck.
>
> M. Russel Feldman, AIA, NCARB
> TBA Architects, Inc.
> 241 Crescent Street Waltham, MA 02453
> (781) 893-5828 tel   (781) 893-5834 fax   (617) 429-5033 cell
> rfeldman at tbaarchitects.com
>  
>
> TBA is accredited by the Better Business Bureau
>  
>  
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
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> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 22
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Double pane windows - Appeal (Susan Bragdon)
>    2. Re: Double pane windows - Appeal (Dennis De Witt)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 12:30:27 -0400
> From: "Susan Bragdon" <sbragdon at comcast.net>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Double pane windows - Appeal
> To: <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <06ae01c9e6c4$19845050$4c8cf0f0$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> Dear all:
>
> Marblehead's Old & Historic District Commission's decision not to allow
> double pane windows in the district in a particular house is being appealed
> to the Selectmen on Wednesday June 10 (for the second time). The homeowner
> has gotten himself a three page spread article in this week's Marblehead
> Reporter (you can search for it online if you like) which of course depicts
> him as the victim and the OHDC as the bad people.  This homeowner is
> bringing with him to the appeal A LOT of friends and neighbors in the
> district and putting much pressure on the Selectmen.  I am writing to ask if
> anyone can spare an evening and attend in favor of not allowing the double
> pane windows on this house (which was built in mid 1700s and is right on the
> street) (and is being rehabbed as the owner has owned it for more than 20
> years and let it go into major disrepair). Or speak to the historic
> importance of the single pane true divided lite windows.
> I am hoping that some other Districts will come and preservationist and
> historians.  Marblehead has the most concentration collection of
> pre-revolutionary homes. This will be precident setting and may forever
> change the look and feel of our historic homes and perhaps yours next.
> If you can come and speak in favor, please e-mail me at sbragdon at comcast.net
> and let me know.  In the alternative, a letter to the Selectmen would also
> be welcomed.  Many Thanks.
>
> Susan Bragdon, Marblehead
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:19:12 -0400
> From: Dennis De Witt <djdewitt at rcn.com>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Double pane windows - Appeal
> To: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <0161DE73-C828-4036-8E9A-23B2FB49AEBF at rcn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> On what basis can he appeal to the BoS?  Is that some peculiar feature  
> of your bylaw?  Is this a 40c district?
>
> Dennis De Witt
> Brookline
>
>
> On Jun 6, 2009, at 12:30 PM, Susan Bragdon wrote:
>
>   
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Marblehead's Old & Historic District Commission's decision not to  
>> allow
>> double pane windows in the district in a particular house is being  
>> appealed
>> to the Selectmen on Wednesday June 10 (for the second time). The  
>> homeowner
>> has gotten himself a three page spread article in this week's  
>> Marblehead
>> Reporter (you can search for it online if you like) which of course  
>> depicts
>> him as the victim and the OHDC as the bad people.  This homeowner is
>> bringing with him to the appeal A LOT of friends and neighbors in the
>> district and putting much pressure on the Selectmen.  I am writing  
>> to ask if
>> anyone can spare an evening and attend in favor of not allowing the  
>> double
>> pane windows on this house (which was built in mid 1700s and is  
>> right on the
>> street) (and is being rehabbed as the owner has owned it for more  
>> than 20
>> years and let it go into major disrepair). Or speak to the historic
>> importance of the single pane true divided lite windows.
>> I am hoping that some other Districts will come and preservationist  
>> and
>> historians.  Marblehead has the most concentration collection of
>> pre-revolutionary homes. This will be precident setting and may  
>> forever
>> change the look and feel of our historic homes and perhaps yours next.
>> If you can come and speak in favor, please e-mail me at
>>     
> sbragdon at comcast.net
>   
>> and let me know.  In the alternative, a letter to the Selectmen  
>> would also
>> be welcomed.  Many Thanks.
>>
>> Susan Bragdon, Marblehead
>>
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