[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter-May 23, 2011

[Skelly, Christopher @ SEC (SEC)]

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER

Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission

May 23, 2011

 

DEMOLITION DELAY BYLAWS AND LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS

In meeting with local historical and historic district commissions
recently, it is clear that there is continuing confusion over how
demolition delay bylaws and local historic districts interface.  Of
particular concern is a common misconception amongst local commission
members regarding the ability of a local historic district commission to
regulate a demolition within a local historic district.   Too often,
commissions with a demolition delay bylaw believe they can only delay a
demolition even when it is within the local historic district.  This is
entirely incorrect.  Under the state law MGL Chapter 40C - The Historic
Districts Act, local historic districts regulate "exterior architectural
features visible from a public way."  Without a certificate issued by
the historic district commission, an applicant cannot make a change to
an exterior architectural feature visible from the public way.  A
demolition is most definitely a change to an exterior architectural
feature.  A commission administering a demolition delay bylaw outside of
a local historic district can only provide a window of opportunity to
find an alternative to demolition.  However, within the local historic
district, the demolition can be permanently prevented.  Since the first
local historic districts established in Massachusetts more than fifty
years ago, they have successfully stopped many demolitions from
occurring.  While demolition delay bylaws have certainly resulted in
saving many threatened historic resources, local historic districts
offer the far stronger method of protecting historic resources.  If you
have any additional questions on demolition delay bylaws or local
historic districts, contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> .  

 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ISSUES SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES 

The National Park Service has published a new document entitled, The
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated
Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.
Covering topics such as maintenance, weatherization, windows,
insulation, solar installations, wind power as well as others, the
guidelines demonstrate appropriate and inappropriate treatments through
the use of recommended and not recommended tables and illustrations.
The guidelines make a point of noting that historic buildings are
inherently sustainable.  The document can be downloaded at
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/
<http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/> .  Note that the document size is
very large.  If you are interested in learning more about the broader
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties which include
preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction, visit
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/standguide/
<http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/standguide/> .  

 

NEW DEMOLITION DELAY BYLAW

At spring town meeting, the town of Hatfield passed a twelve-month
demolition delay bylaw.  

 

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT - NEW WEBSITE

The Community Preservation Coalition has a new website with many new
features such as success stories and statewide statistics.  Particularly
useful for local commissions is the comprehensive searchable database of
CPA projects statewide.  The website can be found at
www.communitypreservation.org
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wlh9c9bab&et=1104763684212&s=1434&e=0013H
KFKC00BgAiNI3bfabLQkPwvNPjURJeUtpFsdkuaG6AvU5pWxeAeJfjXINKM8VPRAryIXa4cM
vXRW6n2Xgcd6vfUbrpMjNy8RL_GPj0HzXDEyOnekQTDA17i9laPAA3> .  For those not
familiar with the Community Preservation Act, it is state enabling
legislation which allows adopting communities to develop a local
Community Preservation fund dedicated to historic preservation, open
space protection and affordable housing.  CPA funds can also be used to
acquire and develop outdoor recreational facilities and lands. Funds for
these purposes are raised locally through an annual surcharge of up to
3% on real property.  Communities that adopt CPA are then eligible for
annual disbursements through the statewide Community Preservation Trust
Fund administered by the Department of Revenue.  Of the 351 cities and
towns in Massachusetts, 148 have adopted the Community Preservation Act
with over 2000 appropriations for historic preservation projects.  

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER

June 9, 2011

Women's History in the National Register of Historic Places, Umass
Amherst.  10-3pm.  

For more information, visit  http://blogs.umass.edu/berks/
<http://blogs.umass.edu/berks/>  or contact mmiller at history.umass.edu
<mailto:mmiller at history.umass.edu> 

 

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

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> 

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/private/masshistpres/attachments/20110523/a9edf4ad/attachment.htm>