[MassHistPres] Ideas for a Demolition Delay Workshop

[cvwtc at aol.com]

 Well said, Julie Nardone.
I can't agree more with everything you have said.
We have a developer in Beverly who created a National Register district just to get historic tax credits for one project while he entertains tearing down three other historic buildings invalidating said district.
As talented as our local historic commission is, they only seem to function to issue demo delays but won't go much beyond that leaving advocacy in the hands of amateurs. 
There certain is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the state recognizing preservation and rewarding developers who give our state's history a measure of respect and punishing those who don't.
Matt Pujo
No Country for Old Buildings




-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Nardone <julie.nardone at verizon.net>
To: masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Sun, Jul 13, 2014 4:55 pm
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Ideas for a Demolition Delay Workshop

 
 
 
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 
  
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