[MassHistPres] Ideas for a Demolition Delay Workshop

[Julie Nardone]

Hi Chris,

I'd be interested in an interactive workshop outside the city, so it's convenient for us suburbanites. Ashland has had a scary amount of demolition delays enacted in town this past year. Land is getting scarce, so antique homes with their big lots look attractive to developers.

What I'd really love to see is the State seeking to understand that Massachusetts' main brand is its history and historic architecture. Without that understanding we're all flapping around in the historic wind.

That's the underlying problem most of us face - a State that scoffs at its own brand. Other states seem to want to preserve everything they can. Here, it's fend for yourself and try to organize a huge grassroots effort. Our history should be treated with respect and dignity.

Developers would be more likely to preserve if they knew that was what Massachusetts valued. 

At the moment, the State appears to value dense apartment buildings going in on every available corner even if it's ludicrous and going to create serious problems. We have a classic example of that about to happen here. You walk away shaking your head.

They give all sorts of money to all sorts of things with preservation (aka their own brand) way down on the list. 

Good lord, we almost tore down faneuil hall and fenway park! And look at the crowds they draw.

Thanks,

Julie Nardone
Ashland HC Vice-chair