[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter-April 11, 2011

[Skelly, Christopher @ SEC]

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER

Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission

April 11, 2011

 

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN 2011-2015 ON THE MHC WEBSITE

The State Historic Preservation Plan 2011-2015 is now on the
Massachusetts Historical Commission's website.  Approved by the National
Park Service in the fall of 2010, there are three main sections to the
plan.  These are Major Accomplishments, Challenges Ahead and Goals and
Objectives.  The Major Accomplishments section looks back at the past
five years, highlighting the many preservation successes found in
Massachusetts.  The Challenges Ahead section reviews the longstanding
obstacles the preservation community faces as well as the many new
challenges our rapidly changing world presents.  The goals and
objectives section is the blueprint for the preservation community,
whether federal, state, regional or local, to address our challenges and
turn them into successes.  For the first time, this plan also includes
an interesting historic preservation timeline stretching back over 150
years.  You can download the entire plan by visiting
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/.  

 

NEXT MONTH IS PRESERVATION MONTH  

During the month of May, events celebrating our significant historic
resources are held throughout the nation.  Many local events are already
scheduled. For instance, Framingham and Newton are holding historic
house tours.  The city of Lowell is holding their tenth annual Doors
Open Lowell, an open house tour of places usually not open to the
public.  A guided architectural tour is taking place in Deerfield.
Cambridge, Newburyport and Somerville are holding their annual
preservation award ceremonies.   Do you have any events planned in your
community?   Ideas for preservation month activities can be found at
http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/preservation-month/
<http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/preservation-month/> .

 

DUXBURY LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED

Three small local historic districts were established in the town of
Duxbury during spring town meeting.  They are the Winsor Local Historic
District, Bradford Local Historic District and First Parish Church Local
Historic District.  These are the first local historic districts
established in the town.  

 

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CENTER LANDMARK DESIGNATION

Under their special act legislation, the city of Boston has designated
the Christian Science Center Complex as a local landmark.  Similar to a
single property local historic district under Massachusetts General Law
Chapter 40C, the designation will require a review by the Boston
Landmarks Commission when proposed changes are made to the buildings or
grounds.  The designation includes the 19th Century Original Mother
Church, the early 20th Century buildings as well as the modernist  I.M
Pei buildings and plaza.  

 

NEW NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WEBSITE

A new website from the National Park Service offers an interesting
mapping tool for the state of Massachusetts.  For instance, you can
click on the map for the National Register of Historic Places and see a
visual representation on where the National Register listings are across
the state.  Zoom in closer and you'll see the name of each listing.
Change the map layer and you can see where the National Parks are in
Massachusetts or which cities and towns are Certified Local Governments.
The website can be found at http://www.nps.gov/state/ma/index.htm
<http://www.nps.gov/state/ma/index.htm> .

 

Massachusetts Cultural Districts Initiative 

The Massachusetts Cultural Council has established a statewide
Massachusetts Cultural Districts Initiative.  The goals include the
following: to attract artists and cultural enterprises; encourage
business and job development; establish the district as a tourist
destination; preserve and reuse historic buildings; enhance property
values; and foster local cultural development.  Any city or town in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts is eligible to apply for a cultural
district designation. For more information, visit
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/cultural_districts.asp
<http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/cultural_districts.asp> .

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER

May 1, 2011

Mount Auburn Cemetery Preservation Initiatives and Walking Tour.  Mount
Auburn Cemetery.  1pm.  For more information, visit
http://www.mountauburn.org/ <http://www.mountauburn.org/> 

May 4, 2011

Demolition Delay Workshop.  Haverhill.  7pm.  For more information,
contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us <mailto:AHaag at sec.state.ma.us> 

********************************************

Please forward this newsletter on to others that may be interested.  If
you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to receive
it directly, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission also has a listserve, known as
masshistpres, specifically for historic preservation.  You can join this
listserve by visiting
http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
<http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres> .  This
newsletter is posted on masshistpres directly and sent to local
commission members.  We welcome your thoughts on what you would like to
see in this newsletter.  The website for the Massachusetts Historical
Commission is http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm> 
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