[MassHistPres] Pre-demolition documentation

Tue Feb 9 09:24:07 EST 2010

In documenting a building before its demolition, the history of its ownership and who occupied it ideally should be done as well.  There is much to be learned when photos and measured drawings (which indicate additions/modifications and their age) are understood in the context of occupants and uses of the buildings over time.  This applies to vernacular buildings as well as high style and/or landmark buildings.  Just think if it was discovered that some famous person had lived in a humble building prior to becoming well known (I'm recalling the Jack Kerouac buildings in Lowell).  I believe requiring this kind of documentation before allowing demolition of is crucial to a preserving the community's heritage and contributing to ongoing preservation efforts.

Jill Fisher, AICP 
Principal Planner 
Larson Fisher Associates, Inc. 
Historic Preservation & Planning Services 
PO Box 1394 
Woodstock, NY 12498 
845-679-5054 
jillfisher47 at hotmail.com 

www.larsonfisher.com 

Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 07:37:10 -0600
From: dbibel at verizon.net
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Pre-demolition documentation

The town of Medfield has a demolition delay provision in its bylaws which require the building department to forward all applications for demolition of structures 50 years old or older to the Historical Commission for consideration as 'preferably preserved'.

Dan Bibel
Medfield Historical Commission, co-chair

Feb 9, 2010 06:50:38 AM, kgreenfield at comcast.net wrote:

    The Town of Reading's Demolition Delay Bylaw states that, "Upon the receipt of a completed application form for a demolition permit for a Potentially Significant Structure, the Building Inspector shall immediately forward a copy thereof to the Commission for review."  In order to assist the Bldg Insp. in identifying those properties that are covered by the bylaw (those in our Historic and Architectural Inventory), they are 'flagged' in the Assessor's database, and when an application is received and looked-up by the Bldg. Insp.'s office, they are cued to notify the HC.  Beyond properties covered under the bylaw, the Bldg. Insp.'s procedural checklist for any demolition also requires Historical Commission sign-off before a permit is issued.  This is a 'safety net' that requires at least a telephone call or email to the Commission, and offers the Commission the chance to pursue documenting any structure.
    Within the Demolition Bylaw there is also a provision that states, "As a condition of releasing the delay enforcement, the Commission may require the applicant to submit measured drawings or other documentation for the Town's historic records."  While this requirement states that the "Commission may require the applicant to submit....", it is the Commission's general practice to make a written request to the applicant that allows the Commission to document the structure prior to its demolition.  We make the same request of properties not covered under the bylaw, and thus far have not met any resistance from an applicant/owner.
    The full text of the bylaw may be found on the town's website.  (There should be a link directly to it on the Historical Commission's page, however it seems to not be working this morning.) The bylaw, instead can be found by going through the -- Town Clerk's page: Town Bylaws: General Bylaws: section 5.13, page 66 -- on the town's website  www.ci.reading.ma.us
    Hope that helps.

Kathy Greenfield
Chairman
Reading Historical Commission

From: Joseph S. Larson 
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 7:48 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
Subject: [MassHistPres] Pre-demolition documentation

The Pelham Historical Commission is interested to learn if any town has a bylaw that requires a building inspector to notify the Historical Commission when an application is received to demolish a structure. We are well aware of demolition delay bylaws, but at this stage are solely interested in a provision that will aloow our Historical Commission time to take documentary photography (both interior and exterior) prior to demolition. We envision that we might do this via a bylaw, or possibly include in the application in the application for a permit a requirement that a copy be filed with the Commission. Any experience with this would be much appreciated.

Joseph S. Larson, Chairman
Pelham Historical Commision
27 Arnold Road
Pelham, Massachusetts 01002-9757

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