[MassHistPres] What constitutes demolition?

[Judith Lund]

David,

It sounds as though the situation in Medfield would not trigger a  
review by our commission.

In Dartmouth it's a pretty straightforward matter, taken from the  
prototype supplied by Mass Historical:

A building shall be considered to be demolished if more than twenty- 
five percent (25%) of the front, back or side elevations are removed  
or covered so as to substantially obliterate the original design.   
Each elevation shall be calculated separately.

Add to that:

BUILDING -- Any combination of materials forming a shelter for  
persons, animals, or property.



The Demolition Review Bylaw applies to all buildings 75 year of age or  
older.



Last year we had 23 requests we considered, encompassing the full  
range from renovation to total demolition.



Judy Lund





On Mar 19, 2015, at 8:55 AM, Dennis De Witt wrote:

> David
>
> In Brookline it would not.  The bylaw language, supplemented by  
> rules and regs, has definitions of partial demolition.  These  
> include such things as removing/replacing/coving 25% of the  
> building, removing most of the roof, stripping all the detail — as  
> happens when applying vinal siding.
>
> In addition, the building must be deemed significant by staff and  
> the chair for the case to reach the commission.
>
> This results in about 40 cases per year.
>
> Dennis De Witt
>
>
> On Mar 18, 2015, at 9:26 PM, David Temple <davidftemple at yahoo.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> In Medfield we handle 5 - 10 demolition permit applications each  
>> year under our demolition delay bylaw, which was first enacted in  
>> 1993. Most cases involve proposed demolition of entire structures  
>> or large portions thereof, but some are very small, such as  
>> removing a window or clapboards when the owner wants to put on a  
>> small addition.
>>
>> Each time a little one comes up, we wonder, is this really  
>> demolition? and do we really need to hold a hearing?  We don't want  
>> to abridge our right to review and hold hearings on applications,  
>> but where and how do you draw the line?
>>
>> Today, for example, a local person called. She wants to remove a  
>> chimney in a restored 1880 Italianate house so she can make the  
>> attic space more useful as a bedroom. She would fill in and shingle  
>> over the ensuing hole in the roof, slightly altering the external  
>> appearance of the building. (Her new heating system vents out the  
>> side of the building on the first floor.)  Would this call for an  
>> historic demolition hearing in your city?
>>
>> I'm interested in what other commissions do, and I'll share the  
>> results with the group.
>>
>> In your reply, please include my original message.
>>
>> David Temple
>> David F. Temple, Inc.
>> 300 South Street
>> Medfield, MA 02052
>> 508-359-2915
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