[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 45

Mon Jun 22 10:12:19 EDT 2009

The Crown Hill Neighborhood is a NR listed district. It was a run-down high-crime area with the largest concentration of Greek Revival Homes in New England when preservationists started purchasing buildings as owner occupants. It is now a lovingly restored and livable neighborhood within Worcester. They have a strong neighborhood group and are undergoing a survey to be listed as a LHD.

Kimberley Connors
Education Director
Preservation Worcester
k.connors at preservationworcester.org

--- masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu wrote:

From: masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 45
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:00:02 -0400

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Today's Topics:

1. Re: Historic district as tool for turnaround (John Newell)
2. Keeping Village Roads Narrow? (Suzanne W Pelton)
3. Re: Keeping Village Roads Narrow? (Joseph S. Larson)
4. Re: Keeping Village Roads Narrow? (Eric Breitkreutz)

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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:25:44 -0400
From: John Newell <johnnewell at mac.com>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Historic district as tool for turnaround
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Message-ID: <0KLJ00I5RSJIEE50 at asmtp011.mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

` Mr. Slate,

>At 12:26 PM 09/06/19, you wrote:
>Does anyone know of any cases where a historic 
>district was created in an architecturally 
>significant, yet troubled neighborhood which 
>resulted in the neighborhood becoming stronger 
>(i.e. more owner occupancy, less crime)?

I believe that whenever the comparisons 
have been made, a higher owner occupancy rate is 
always fist in glove with a lower reportable crime rate.

Somewhat relevant to this inquiry as I 
see it, is increasing trend in the three-decker 
market. Ms. Abby Goodnough reports in NYTimes:
>June 20, 2009 Hard Times for New England?s 3-Deckers By Abby Goodnough
>
>NEW BEDFORD, Mass. ? As foreclosures batter the 
>dense neighborhoods of urban New England, a regional emblem is under siege.
>
>Three-decker homes, which proliferated in cities 
>like Boston; Providence, R.I.; and Worcester, 
>Mass., a century ago and remain fixtures of the 
>landscape, are being foreclosed on at 
>disproportionate rates, left to decay and even razed.
see 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/us/20triple.html?hp=&pagewanted=all> 
for the full article

Mentioned in the article are several 
issues of value to the common weal, all 
potentially sympathetic with historic 
preservation. Our reporter presents a span of 
representative spokesmen for affordable housing, 
green space, urban qol; community activists, 
government officials, and at least one celebrity 
of note who laments the threat that non-owner-occupancy presents.

Preserve and persevere,

......niiiiiiiiiiii

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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:10:04 -0400
From: Suzanne W Pelton <sw.pelton at verizon.net>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?
To: MassHistPres MA <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <CEEA93DC-18B0-4BD3-B89A-02FBBA798260 at verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; Format="flowed";
DelSp="yes"

Lenox is poised for a road improvement project in 2010 to: 
reconstruct existing surface, improve the shoulders for bicycle 
lanes, rebuild the sidewalk, and provide drainage and sewer 
improvements on a 2-lane minor highway (known in Highway Department- 
land as "Other Through Highway.") The road is to be widened to 
accommodate bike traffic though one doesn't see much of that on this 
rather steep hill. residents were given a choice of widening the 
sidewalk or widening the road, neither option being desired.

The Lenox HC wonders if there are communities who have succeeding in 
preserving their narrow historic roads rather than widen for bike 
paths (and more traffic?) The road is not heavily trafficked except 
following Tanglewood concerts, maybe 30 times in the season. We are 
concerned that the paring away of parkway will change the character 
of the road leading into our historic village.

Suzanne Pelton
Lenox HC
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:05:54 -0400
From: "Joseph S. Larson" <larson at tei.umass.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?
To: "MassHistPres MA" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <5672EA74D80C4D14B16621DE8007AB5F at tbr3450>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

In 1998 citizens of Pelham objected to the Selectmen having entered into a contract with the state for widening a road without much prior warning to the town. In 1999 Town Meeting amended the two "boiler plate" articles that appear in each Annual Town Meeting Warrant to authorize the Selectmen to: 1. Accept state or federal funds or grants, and 2. Enter into contracts with Mass Highway for construction and/or maintenance of public highways.

The amendment to each article added the following language:
"...provided that no funds shall be expended to widen, or to enter into a contract to widen, any town road unless the Board of Selectmen has held a public hearing advertised at least fourteen (14) days in advance with any proposed contract and/or plans for such road improvements being posted for public viewing prior to the public hearing, and further provided that such policy is consistent with state and federal requirements."

The amended form of the two articles has been used each year since 1999. On one or two occasions the articles were presented without the additional language and each time Town Meeting has amended them before voting to pass them.

In 2002 Town Meeting enacted the Scenic Roads bylaw and applied it to all town roads, except the two state highways, Routes 202 and 9.

So far these provisions have seemed to provide the public participation that citizens want to have. However, new road construction or re-construction in Pelham has been minimum.

Joseph S. Larson, Chairman
Pelham Historical Commission

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Suzanne W Pelton 
To: MassHistPres MA 
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 2:10 PM
Subject: [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?

Lenox is poised for a road improvement project in 2010 to: reconstruct existing surface, improve the shoulders for bicycle lanes, rebuild the sidewalk, and provide drainage and sewer improvements on a 2-lane minor highway (known in Highway Department-land as "Other Through Highway.") The road is to be widened to accommodate bike traffic though one doesn't see much of that on this rather steep hill. residents were given a choice of widening the sidewalk or widening the road, neither option being desired.

The Lenox HC wonders if there are communities who have succeeding in preserving their narrow historic roads rather than widen for bike paths (and more traffic?) The road is not heavily trafficked except following Tanglewood concerts, maybe 30 times in the season. We are concerned that the paring away of parkway will change the character of the road leading into our historic village.

Suzanne Pelton
Lenox HC

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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:54:42 -0400
From: Eric Breitkreutz <breitkreutz8 at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?
To: "Joseph S. Larson" <larson at tei.umass.edu>
Cc: MassHistPres MA <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <4A3D3E82.60907 at earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I know that there was a much-touted success in preserving Newburyport's 
historic High Street from a destructive DOT widening project back in the 
mid-1990s, but I cannot remember any of the details anymore. Hopefully 
my recollection will jar the memory of those in Newburyport much more 
closely involved in the preservation effort, and they can provide some 
more specific information to you, Suzanne.

Best of luck,

Eric Breitkreutz
Wakefield

Joseph S. Larson wrote:
> In 1998 citizens of Pelham objected to the Selectmen having entered 
> into a contract with the state for widening a road without much prior 
> warning to the town. In 1999 Town Meeting amended the two "boiler 
> plate" articles that appear in each Annual Town Meeting Warrant to 
> authorize the Selectmen to: 1. Accept state or federal funds or 
> grants, and 2. Enter into contracts with Mass Highway for construction 
> and/or maintenance of public highways.
> 
> The amendment to each article added the following language:
> "...provided that no funds shall be expended to widen, or to enter 
> into a contract to widen, any town road unless the Board of Selectmen 
> has held a public hearing advertised at least fourteen (14) days in 
> advance with any proposed contract and/or plans for such road 
> improvements being posted for public viewing prior to the public 
> hearing, and further provided that such policy is consistent with 
> state and federal requirements."
> 
> The amended form of the two articles has been used each year since 
> 1999. On one or two occasions the articles were presented without the 
> additional language and each time Town Meeting has amended them before 
> voting to pass them.
> 
> In 2002 Town Meeting enacted the Scenic Roads bylaw and applied it to 
> all town roads, except the two state highways, Routes 202 and 9.
> 
> So far these provisions have seemed to provide the public 
> participation that citizens want to have. However, new road 
> construction or re-construction in Pelham has been minimum.
> 
> Joseph S. Larson, Chairman
> Pelham Historical Commission
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Suzanne W Pelton <mailto:sw.pelton at verizon.net>
> *To:* MassHistPres MA <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> *Sent:* Saturday, June 20, 2009 2:10 PM
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?
>
> Lenox is poised for a road improvement project in 2010 to:
> reconstruct existing surface, improve the shoulders for bicycle
> lanes, rebuild the sidewalk, and provide drainage and sewer
> improvements on a 2-lane minor highway (known in
> Highway Department-land as "Other Through Highway.") The road is
> to be widened to accommodate bike traffic though one doesn't see
> much of that on this rather steep hill. residents were given a
> choice of widening the sidewalk or widening the road, neither
> option being desired.
>
> The Lenox HC wonders if there are communities who have succeeding
> in preserving their narrow historic roads rather than widen for
> bike paths (and more traffic?) The road is not heavily trafficked
> except following Tanglewood concerts, maybe 30 times in the
> season. We are concerned that the paring away of parkway will
> change the character of the road leading into our historic village.
>
> Suzanne Pelton
> Lenox HC
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly. PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
> THE WHOLE LIST.
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly. PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************
> 

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End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 45
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