[MassHistPres] Request for information about your experiences with Historic Districts in towns in Massachusetts

[ruth strachan]

My name is Ruth Strachan and I am a resident of Ipswich.  I belong to a
subcommittee of the Ipswich Historical Commission which is introducing a
proposed bylaw to residents for creating an Architectural Preservation
District in the downtown area.  This is where many of our 59 First Period
houses are located.  The bylaw will be voted on in Fall Town Meeting.

Our proposed bylaw basically covers new construction, and major additions
to existing structures. It will require approval of the APD commission for
changes.  Demolition, town wide, requires approval on structures older than
75 years by the Historical Commission.  Structures within the APD of any
age will need permission for demolition.  The overall goal in the
Architectural Preservation District is to preserve our ancient homes within
their current context of surrounding buildings built over the last 300
years up to modern times.

The APD commission would NOT consider many details required by State
Historic District legislation (40c) or by other forms of historic district
regulations.  There would be no consideration of siding, windows, paint
color, trim, roof materials or other details on existing structures.  The
area contained within the Architectural Preservation District is largely
within the Zoning Master Plan which encourages accessory buildings on
nonconforming lots.  This encourages the denser use of land downtown to
provide more housing while preserving our open farm land and rural land
further away from the center of town.  So we are looking at changes coming
over the next decades as pressure to expand available housing stock
increases.

There are, as you can imagine, Frequently Asked Questions, aka Frequently
Made Statements and I am hoping that we can draw on your experience in your
towns to expand our range of helpful answers.

1.  "The Commission will grab more and more power."  In your experience has
there been a change, or ebb and flow of how your commission regulates
changes to your houses?  Is it tougher, or more permissive?

2.  "My house isn't historic."  (But it is in an historic neighborhood).  I
believe this regulation protects all of us from change we've had no
opportunity to consider by whomever buys the houses next door.  But we
could use phrases urging a community viewpoint.  Got any?

3.  "If you want to tell me what to do, pay my morgage."

4.  "The commission will make property values fall."  What's happened in
your town since you got preservation regulation?

5.  Do you think your town is "in better shape" thanks to your historic
district, or not?

6.  Have grumbling, complaining and appeals to the Board of Selectman
increased over time, or decreased.  Are the selectmen supportive of your
district?

I'd appreciate your comments and welcome your ideas.  If you want answer
without identifying yourself, that's OK.  Drop me a line at:

ipswichapd at gmail.com  and thanks!
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