[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 58, Issue 10

Fri Dec 17 20:07:03 EST 2010

Dear How to Play It, 

As a realtor, a member of the Swampscott Historical Commission and therefore one who appreciates the beauty of original construction, I know what you are up against. I would say that the most effective thing you can do is to send a message to the people of Harvard -- using your local newespaper and web site as the messenger -- telling people in the community what that developer did, how it will affect the value of that property, and why they should never replace original windows with faux plastic. The developer will not like being outed like that, and you will have made a powerful statement. I certainly don't think it's worth a court fight,  -- you will end up losing the battle -- a pyrrhic victory, really. Folks need to be educated, and education is powerful! 

Sylvia Belkin, Swampscott Historical Commission 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu 
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 12:00:01 PM 
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 58, Issue 10 

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Today's Topics: 

   1. How Heavy to Play It (Jonathan Feist) 
   2. Historic Architectural Plans Workshop (Steinitz, Michael @ SEC) 
   3. Re: How Heavy to Play It (Shantia Anderheggen) 

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

Message: 1 
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:20:58 -0500 
From: Jonathan Feist <jfeist at charter.net> 
Subject: [MassHistPres] How Heavy to Play It 
To: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> 
Message-ID: <BB2167F2-53D9-49E7-B5C6-82FBB169E6D6 at charter.net> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes 

Hello, 

A developer bought two houses in Harvard Common historical district   
and replaced all the original windows without an application. The new   
windows are your usual crappy contemporary window, with plastic   
stripes instead of muntins. 

We sent a "cease and desist" type of letter when we saw this, and told   
him we needed an application. He claimed ignorance, though he actually   
went through the process once before, but said he was copying another   
window he saw used in the district (possible, but done long ago). He's   
submitting an application after the fact. 

So, how heavy to play it? Insist that he replace the new windows with   
windows that we approve? That would be an extremely major expense, and   
he'd likely sue us over it. Let it go, just taking our lumps, and   
accepting that the damage is done? That sets a bad precedent. 

Wondering about your thoughts. 

Jonathan Feist, Chair 
Harvard Historical Commission 

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

Message: 2 
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:30:01 -0500 
From: "Steinitz, Michael @ SEC" <Michael.Steinitz at state.ma.us> 
Subject: [MassHistPres] Historic Architectural Plans Workshop 
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> 
Message-ID: 
        <4B9743DC9631164FA8ED1AAC579277AF04BE02C4 at PROD-MSG01.prod.sec.local> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 

The Massachusetts Archives will be offering an Architectural Plans 
workshop on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 9:00 AM.  The workshop will 
cover the depth and breadth of the Archives collection of over 60,000 
architectural plans. Archives staff will discuss the types of plans 
researchers are likely to find in the Archives, the kinds of information 
available from the plans, as well as why the Archives has these plans. 
Archives staff will also cover all aspects of requesting to view the 
records and having them sent out for reproduction. A variety of plans 
will be pulled from the vault and looked at during the workshop. 
Pre-registration is required.  The workshop is limited to 10 people. If 
the workshop fills up quickly, it will be offered again.  Please feel 
free to email or call Autumn Haag, Reference Archivist, with any 
questions, or if you would like to reserve a space in the workshop. 

Autumn Haag, MISt 

Reference Archivist 

Massachusetts Archives 

220 Morrissey Blvd. 

Boston, MA 02125 

617-727-2816 ext. 240 

AHaag at sec.state.ma.us 

 If you are not familiar with the Massachusetts Division of Inspection, 
Building Inspection Plans collection at the Massachusetts Archives, here 
is a great opportunity for an introduction.   Beginning in 1888, the 
Division of Inspection was responsible for reviewing and approving plans 
for construction and renovation of buildings allowing public access, 
including hospitals, hotels and boarding houses, office buildings, 
theaters, churches, schools, etc., etc. 

Michael Steinitz 

Director 

Preservation Planning Division 

Massachusetts Historical Commission 

220 Morrissey Blvd 

Boston MA 02125 

617-727-8470 

617-727-5128 (fax) 

michael.steinitz at state.ma.us 

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Message: 3 
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:32:13 -0500 
From: Shantia Anderheggen <Shantia_Anderheggen at nthp.org> 
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] How Heavy to Play It 
To: Jonathan Feist <jfeist at charter.net>, MHC MHC listserve 
        <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> 
Message-ID: 
        <042C428FA29ED040ACD2870ACE099EF617E4D756F4 at NTEMAIL.nthp.org> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 

Jonathan: 

This happened (numerous times) when I was the historic preservation planner in Newport RI. You might want to ask a few questions about the windows that were removed before making any decisions--are they still around (probably not, but it's worth asking), were they historic, are they repairable, etc? Allowing him to retain inappropriate replacements is a precedent you'll be addressing at almost every future window replacement request, I'm sure. 

Shanti 
  ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 
Shantia Anderheggen | Easement Administrator | Law Department 
National Trust for Historic Preservation | 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036 
Phone: 202.588.6159 | Fax: 202.588.6272 | Email: shantia_anderheggen at nthp.org 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation helps people protect, enhance, and enjoy the places that matter to them. Become our newest member today! Learn more at www.PreservationNation.org 

-----Original Message----- 
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Feist 
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 11:21 AM 
To: MHC MHC listserve 
Subject: [MassHistPres] How Heavy to Play It 

Hello, 

A developer bought two houses in Harvard Common historical district   
and replaced all the original windows without an application. The new   
windows are your usual crappy contemporary window, with plastic   
stripes instead of muntins. 

We sent a "cease and desist" type of letter when we saw this, and told   
him we needed an application. He claimed ignorance, though he actually   
went through the process once before, but said he was copying another   
window he saw used in the district (possible, but done long ago). He's   
submitting an application after the fact. 

So, how heavy to play it? Insist that he replace the new windows with   
windows that we approve? That would be an extremely major expense, and   
he'd likely sue us over it. Let it go, just taking our lumps, and   
accepting that the damage is done? That sets a bad precedent. 

Wondering about your thoughts. 

Jonathan Feist, Chair 
Harvard Historical Commission 

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