[MassHistPres] Demo Delay Property Transfers

Tue Dec 13 15:38:10 EST 2016

Amherst is also interested in examples of local regulations that would cause demolition permits to lapse (and a new demolition delay process to be required) upon any mid-stream change in ownership, to avoid encouraging the marketing of older houses as tear-downs.

We haven’t had much of this activity, but even a few is too many, and we want to stay ahead of the curve.

Jonathan Tucker
Senior Planner
Amherst Planning Department
4 Boltwood Avenue, Town Hall
Amherst, MA  01002
(413) 259-3040
tuckerj at amherstma.gov<mailto:tuckerj at amherstma.gov>

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Barry
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 11:31 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Demo Delay Property Transfers

Marilyn, Sarah, Katy, and others:

This is a timely thread for the Duxbury Historical Commission. The revised Historic Preservation bylaw that we are planning to present at annual Town Meeting includes a provision that would make a demolition certification non-transferrable to a new owner. Our logic is that we want another bite at the apple in the form of a chance to talk with the new owner about preservation as an alternative to demolition when a property that has an outstanding demolition certification is sold. In preparation for discussions about the revised bylaw, the Commission has been asked to research what other towns and cities are doing regarding transferability.

Property owners would become aware of this provision by reading the bylaw, through the Commission’s written instructions for filling out the application for demolition certification or by hearing about it at “the window” at the Inspectional Services department at Town Hall. We presume our local weekly newspaper will make note of this provision in its coverage of the new bylaw too.

Do we know of other towns where demolition permits (or the permission to demolish an historic structure) expires or does not transfer when a property is sold?

Thank you,

Mark Barry
Member of the Duxbury Historical Commission

Mobile: 832-331-4764
Office:   508-591-5400

m.barry at yahoo.com<mailto:m.barry at yahoo.com>
markpbarry at gmail.com<mailto:markpbarry at gmail.com>

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Sent: Friday, November 18, 2016 3:05 PM
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 129, Issue 14

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Today's Topics:

  1. demo delay property transfers (Katy Hax Holmes)
  2. Re: Demo delay property transfers (Sarah White)
  3. Historic Structures Report pricing (Tucker, Jonathan)
Hello Marilyn,

The City of Newton recently changed its ordinance to make the ownership of historic properties non-transferrable during demo delay periods.  The demo delay no longer transfers by address, and purchase-and-sale documents are no longer sufficient proof of ownership.  Having just passed this change in the spring, we are aware of the ‘opportunity’ allowed in the building code to transfer ownership of demolition permits once the demo delay expires.  Nevertheless, Newton’s primary objective was to strengthen the intent of the demolition delay by ensuring that property owners used the delay period to find alternatives to demolition.  Again, still early yet, but the changes have reduced the number of historic properties on our historical commission’s agenda for which demolition was never intended (e.g. a marketing tool to ‘start the clock’), and the Commission has more time to pursue protection measures for threatened historically significant structures.

Katy Hax Holmes
City of Newton
When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential.
Marilyn -

In Somerville, it carries with the property, not the owner. (Same thing in Newburyport where I live).

Best,
Sarah

Sarah White
Planner / Preservation Planner
Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development
City of Somerville / Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
617.625.6600 x2534

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From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>> on behalf of Burks, Sarah <sburks at cambridgema.gov<mailto:sburks at cambridgema.gov>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 2:55 PM
To: M Fenollosa; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Demo delay property transfers

Hi Marilyn,

The CHC decisions do carry with the property.  But because the finding regarding preferably preserved status is made in the context of a proposed replacement proposal, the applicant has to have a replacement proposal to show us in order to apply.  A prospective buyer can get the existing owner to apply on his behalf, but we would still need to see the replacement design.  If a new owner has a new replacement design proposal, we would require a new application.

Sarah
_________________________________________
Sarah L. Burks, Preservation Planner
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Ave., 2nd Fl.
Cambridge, MA  02139
ph 617-349-4687; fax 617-349-3116; TTY 617-349-6112
http://www.cambridgema.gov/Historic
[http://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Images/historicalcommission/House%20at%2076%20Boylston.jpg?mh=325&mw=540]<http://www.cambridgema.gov/Historic>

Cambridge Historical Commission - City of Cambridge ...<http://www.cambridgema.gov/Historic>
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Cambridge Historical Commission. Mission & Services. The Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC) is the city's historic preservation agency. Established in 1963, the ...

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-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of M Fenollosa
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 9:33 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Demo delay property transfers

Hi everybody -

For those communities with demo delay, do you allow "transfers" of the demo delay periodto a subsequent owner who purchases the property while the delay is running? or do you require the new owner to reapply, thus restarting the delay period if the HC votes again to impose it? And if so, how do you ensure that everyone knows this - through your DD bylaw?
written policy? Apparently it's not required one way or the other by any state law or regulation (e.g. the Building Code). This issue is prompted by owners who plan to sell their property within a year, and want to market the property as a teardown because the DD period will have almost expired at the sale date.

Many thanks for your insights!

Marilyn Fenollosa

Lexington Historical Commission

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Has anyone recently contracted with a historic preservation specialist for a Historic Structures Report for a medium-large library or similar public building?

If so, how much did it cost?

Thanks,

Jonathan Tucker
Senior Planner
Amherst Planning Department
4 Boltwood Avenue, Town Hall
Amherst, MA  01002
(413) 259-3040
tuckerj at amherstma.gov<mailto:tuckerj at amherstma.gov>

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