[MassHistPres] article from Boston Globe on the Joseph Draper House, Dover

[Sara Molyneaux]

Rosemary and James,

No, it’s not quite like that. If there were ever a builder who could have brought this waffling owner over to the side of reason, it would have been this local builder, who grew up in the town, is well-liked and is known for building appropriate, tastefully-sized homes, as he is doing for them (behind the Draper House). The builder has had numerous conversations with the Olivas about the value - and practicality - of allowing someone to take the Draper house, and has been met with increasing ire and resistance. Now apparently the owners have told him he won’t even be allowed to salvage parts! The owner told me three weeks ago his price for the house is $125,000. 

All proposals since the owners (Anthony and Annette Oliva) purchased the property in 2003 have been rejected. These include proposals to swap land that the Draper House sits on for adjacent land the land trust owns. 6 Farm Street does not have enough frontage to be divisible into two lots. In the early years, the owners did proposed a four house subdivision and allowed developers to approach the Planning Board about a 40B on the property. Neither of these gained traction. Now, their three children are half grown up, and it seems the reality that it was time to build a proper house. They own the property adjacent to 6 Farm Street, and have lived in an older duplex on that property since 2003. 

The Dover Historical Commission imposed its one-year demolition delay in about 2004, and photographed the house during that time. 

Sara Molyneaux
Dover


On Jun 25, 2014, at 10:16 PM, Rosemary <rbattlesfoy at comcast.net> wrote:

> Yes, maybe Sara could tell us here when that information is available who  are the contractor & architect of the replacement houses (for there are sure so be multiples with seven acres to cash in on).
> At a minimum, the Draper house should be documented if it isn't already and a salvage crew be brought in. That way, at least some part of the house will live on. 
> I'm sure every method has been tried, but has Olivera (the owner) been asked if he'd consider sub-dividing the property legally? He'd sell the house and a small parcel for it, and he'd still be able to develop the other acreage. This depends on zoning, of course, and his willingness to forgo a percentage of the millions he'll make in the redevelopment. 
> 
> Rosemary B. Foy
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 25, 2014, at 9:53 AM, james hadley <jameswhadley at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Although controversial, might I suggest a boycott of the builder who undertakes the demolition and replacement. There ARE  negative consequences to our actions as players in a capitalist society.
>> At the very least, the names of the architect for any replacement house and the builder of that house should be made available widely, so that people can make their own judgement.
>> James Hadley AIA
>> former chair, Orleans Historical Commission
>> 
>> From: meauxmo1 at comcast.net
>> Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 21:09:34 -0400
>> To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] article from Boston Globe on the Joseph Draper House,	Dover
>> 
>> 
>> As a progress report to a story we all know all too well, here is an article printed in the Boston Globe West last Sunday, concerning the plight of the Joseph Draper House (c.1724) in Dover. 
>> 
>> Sara Molyneaux
>> Friends of the Joseph Draper House
>> 
>> SaveDoversOldestHouse on Facebook
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2014/06/21/dover-preservationists-want-save-joseph-draper-house-from-demolition/Qsm0alZ5COOpSsIr162fCN/story.html
>> 
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