[MassHistPres] Carriage House preservation

[Jane Guy]

Salem amended its zoning ordinance in 1984 to permit the occupancy of
carriage houses as a single family dwelling unit "as an accessory use to
a principal dwelling on the same lot provided that parking requirements
are met and upon the condition that there shall be no change to the
exterior of the historic carriage house unless approved by the
Historical Commission."  Our ordinances are located at
http://salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Clerk/ordinances

 
 
Jane A. Guy
Assistant Community Development Director
City of Salem
Department of Planning & Community Development
120 Washington St., 3rd Floor
Salem, MA  01970
978-619-5685
(F) 978-740-0404
jguy at salem.com
www.salem.com
 

Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:45:17 EDT
From: BLever3043 at aol.com
Subject: [MassHistPres] Carriage House preservation

Hello All,
 
I am looking for examples of programs and/or ordinances designed to
promote  the preservation of carriage houses/barns.  The City of Newton
has a significant amount of Victorian era residences and a number of
carriage houses, though no comprehensive survey of this class of
buildings has been undertaken.  Over the past several years, I have
noticed that historic outbuildings frequently fall into disrepair and
are  underused.  Sometimes the demolition delay is ineffective in their
preservation as they are condemned (and rightfully so by our building
inspectors) negating the delay.  In other occasions owners having no
use for the building, simply wait the delay out.  I am looking to
compliment the "stick" approach with an appealing incentive or
"carrot."  I have noticed that the town of Reading has a specific
ordinance designed to convert carriage houses into residences through a
special permit and I am wondering if there are any other communities
that have special  programs designed to promote the preservation of
these buildings.
 
Thanks,
 
Brian Lever