[MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

[slater at alum.rpi.edu]

> I find it interesting that you would prefer a solution that 
> looks better but is potentially worse for the future preservation of
the 
> building; one complaint I hear a *lot* about HDCs is that they care
about 
> preserving appearances rather than preserving actual history.

MGL is written in such a way that it emphasizes appearance over original
historical pieces of building. It says "Nothing in this chapter shall be
construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance, repair or replacement of
any exterior architectural feature within an historic district which
does not involve a change in design, material, color or the outward
appearance thereof".

If I want to reshingle my house, and put up shingles that are the same
design, material, and color (if color is controlled), that does not fall
under the control of the historic district commission. Emphasis is on
change of design, material, or color. 

MGL also says that its Purpose is "to promote the educational, cultural,
economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and
protection of the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places
significant in the history of the commonwealth and its cities and towns
or their architecture, and through the maintenance and improvement of
settings for such buildings and places and the encouragement of design
compatible therewith". Again, it emphasizes characteristics over
original materials.

It's the age-old joke: "I have an axe that has been in my family for 200
years. The blade has been replace 5 times and the handle has been
replaced twice". To me, although there is definitely value to having
original materials, the main benefit is in the appearance of the
property, so I don't shed a tear when someone re-shingles their house
because houses were constructed in such a way that they were designed to
be repaired, replacing things like shingles, parting beads, trim pieces,
and even roofs. Even if every piece of a house has been changed over
throughout the years, since it was done incrementally I think the house
is still as "old" as the year it was built.


Ralph 
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