[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 22

Tue Jun 9 08:57:06 EDT 2009

How are the LHD commisioners chosen?  Marcia Starkey

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carol Carlson 
  To: Russel Feldman 
  Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 11:08 PM
  Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 22

  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-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of
masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 12:00 PM
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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End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 22
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