[MassHistPres] owner request to demolish property based on condition

[Jane Guy]

We have a unique way of looking at Hardship...sort of a catch 22 for the
owners... 

Financial - if the claim is they cannot afford to do something
appropriately, we suggest they go through the city's Housing
Rehabilitation Loan Program which is for households of low to moderate
income.... when they say they don't income-qualify, we can determine
that there is no financial hardship LOL!

Disrepair - Most any property can be restored with enough funding and
unless it is a public safety hazard our building inspector will not
order its demolition (which he could do without HisCom permission).  So
if the Building Inspector does not feel it is bad enough, neither does
the Commission.  

We get very few demo requests within the district, but the typical
response is DENIED.  We actually will have one coming up in the next
month or so, so we will see.    

I fail to see how rebuilding a 1630 house could be done as an exact
replica - building codes would likely require changes.

 
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