[MassHistPres] how to make decisions

[Jill Fisher]

Marcia - Interestingly, I couldn't find that the Sec. of Interior's Standards deals with this question.

We have always advised LHCs to treat locally designated properties as rigorously as NR properties. (If it's not worthy of protection from demolition, then it isn't worthy of local designation.)  In districts it is important to first establish if it is contributing or non-contributing, and secondly whether it is intact or altered.  If it has been so altered that it would be economically infeasible to restore to some semblence of its historic appearance, then demolition may be the preferred alterative, especially if you maintain review over what replaces it.  The condition of the building is also important to establish by a trusted, historically sensitive building engineer. If is contributing and intact and isn't falling down (it can be made habitable without as great an expense as the demolition), then it should not be allowed to be demolished under any circumstances in our estimation.  I believe this has been upheld by the courts as allowing a reasonable economic return on investment.
 
However, if a contributing/intact building is clearly on its way out, the LHC should require that a history of the building be written up and scale drawings (interior & exterior) provided.  (It would be best if this requirement is written into your bylaw/code.)  If someone can pay to demolish and replace a building, they can afford this nominal extra expense to have this documentation done.

 

Hope this gives the GHC some basis for its deliberations.

 


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 



 






From: mdstarkey at crocker.com
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:43:10 -0500
Subject: [MassHistPres] how to make decisions





Hello,
 
The Greenfield Historical Commission is having considerable difficulty in knowing what process to use in taking a position on questions of preservation or demolition of historic resources.   
 
Are there criteria, questions or guidelines that other LHCs use in order to be thorough and consistent over time? If so, do they differ depending on the designation i.e. Landmark: national or local? National Register listed or eligible? part of an identified historic area? uniqueness: architectural, historic?  etc. 
 
Thanks for any tips,
Marcia Starkey    
Greenfield Historical Commission
      		 	   		  
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