[MassHistPres] owner request to demolish property based on condition

[Valerie Norton]

I do not think that any structure with this historic significance should be
allowed to be torn down.
In our business we find that if it is still standing it can be preserved.
Even with huge holes in the roof and listing to one side.
I would appreciate it if you took some photos when you have your site
meeting.  If the building is this age it most likely a post and beam which
can be repaired without a doubt.
I will say that they are probably looking to demo because as we all know
preservation can be more costly than new construction.
I say hold your ground and do not allow demolition.
Valerie Norton

Norton Preservation Trust
PO Box 476 
Nantucket, MA 02554
508 228 9987
508 228 7882 (FAX)
preserve at nantucket.net


Norton Preservation Trust
Building Artisans and Architectural Designers of Historic Homes
 


On 1/25/11 9:13 AM, "Paul Bourdon" <Paul.Bourdon at GTC-BIO.COM> wrote:

> WOW! I guess I don't understand how they have the money to tear this
> nationally significant building down and rebuild a brand new house??? So
> they would be willing to replicate a chamfered First Period timber frame?  I
> would make sure you have someone who can make an informed assessment of the
> actual structural condition of the building. A lot of old houses look a lot
> worse than they are and replacing sills is not that big a deal. Why don't
> they just sell the property? How do people like this become owners of these
> buildings?
> 
> Paul Bourdon
> Southborough
> 
> 
> On 1/24/11 10:20 PM, "Nancy Dole" <ndole at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
>> Hi everyone.
>> 
>> We have had an owner application for a certificate of hardship to allow
>> them t o demolish a house they own in the district. I will just copy
>> here the minutes from the meeting this evening, and ask for comments.
>> 
>> 
>> Applicant came to discuss the situation with the family homestead, she
>> and her brother are the current owners, as of 1998. They want to
>> demolish the house and build a new house in the same location, and would
>> begin that process by requesting a certificate of hardship, based on the
>> age and condition of the existing structure. The original house is a
>> cape circa 1630, built by Josiah Standish, one of the original settlers
>> of West Tisbury, and the son of Miles Standish, a well known figure in
>> American history. The additions to the original structure were built in
>> 1865 by applicant's great great grandfather. The house has great
>> significance in the town¹s history, and is a town and island landmark.
>> But it is in severe disrepair, and the current owners are not able to do
>> the work needed to preserve it. Demolishing it and building a new home
>> would be their preferred solution.
>> 
>> It is not clear if a hardship that is unique to the property and is not
>> applicable to the rest of the district, which is required by our bylaw,
>> could be that it is older than any other structure in the district and
>> is in such disrepair that it is not worth fixing.
>> 
>> One of our members suggested we do some research to see how other
>> districts have handled the issue of a house that is of great historic
>> value to a district, but is beyond repair and/or too costly for the
>> owners to repair. We decided to contact the Mass Historic Commission
>> Mail Server List, and raise the issue.
>> 
>> There was discussion by the members as to whether the original 1630 cape
>> was more historic than the 1875 additions, which were add-ons, and if
>> those add-ons could be demolished and not replaced, while the original
>> cape could also be demolished, but be replaced by a replica.
>> 
>> The decision was made to schedule a site visit for Saturday the 29th at
>> 10:30 am. The members of the Historic Commission as well as any other
>> interested parties are welcome to attend.
>> 
>> Another meeting will be scheduled for February 7th.
>> 
>> So I am doing as requested, and writing to ask if any of the other
>> districts have had applications like this, and how they were resolved.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Nancy Dole
>> West Tisbury Historic District Commission
>> 
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