[MassHistPres] LHD mailed surveys

Wed May 31 12:13:27 EDT 2017

Newton has two proposed LHDs moving through the process, twelve years after the last of the current four were approved.  Due partly to the size of the proposed districts, the decision was made to mail a survey with an attached ballot to each property owner located in the proposed district boundaries.  Each ballot will be numbered so as to prevent duplication, and neither emails nor phone calls will be accepted.  This is a new approach for the city, so we'll see how effective it is in assessing the level of support for the new LHDs.

Katy Holmes
Senior Planner
City of Newton

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Preliminary Mtgs & Special Fund (Sarah White)
   2. Re: Historic Windows (Tucker, Jonathan)
   3. local historic district process (Russ Feldman)

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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 30 May 2017 02:31:16 +0000
From: Sarah White <swhite at somervillema.gov>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Preliminary Mtgs & Special Fund
To: "jworden at swwalaw.com" <jworden at swwalaw.com>,
"masshistpres at cs.umb.edu"<masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
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to Chris Bader's question regarding the survey:

I am aware of communities doing both paper-based (direct-mail) along with well-advertised online surveys, simultaneously, in order to capture the largest percent of responses possible.  Particularly if doing both online and paper surveys, you will need to have a process in place to de-dupe (eliminate duplicate) responses. Perhaps this is done through coding paper surveys and through requiring specific information from online survey-takers in order for the responses to be sent. While helpful, such processes sometimes raise suspicion in the minds of those who are prone to being concerned about responding to "government" questionnaires.

When doing these surveys a few years ago, there was no requirement that they be sent via US Mail. The surveys themselves are not required as part of the 40C process. However, they are highly recommended. Can you determine from the community listserv the number of subscribers that are also property owners within presumptive LHD district boundaries? That will be key.

Sarah White

City Planner/Preservation Planner

City of Somerville

93 Highland Avenue

Somerville, MA 02143

617.625.6600 x2534

swhite at somervillema.gov

________________________________
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of jworden at swwalaw.com <jworden at swwalaw.com>
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2017 11:22:23 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Preliminary Mtgs & Special Fund

Responding o both posts below - one regarding preliminary neighborhood info before considering an historic district, and the other about establishing a separate fund that the historical commission could use without town meeting appropriation, here's the experience in Arlington:

1.  We always do neighborhood work before considering an historic district.  Often, the impetus has come from concerned residents.  After some preliminary research, we schedule one or more informational meetings.  Notice might be by mail or door-to-door hand distribution.  Not only do residents get their questions answered, but they often have historic tid-bits and info not found in public   records. Also, you can smoke out the opposition (if one is still allowed  to use that analogy).

2.  As to the fund  of the type described, I was instrumental in setting one up here  some 35 years ago.  We got an allocation from Community Development Block Grant funds (200K) to establish a 501(c)(3) corporation, separate from the Town, but whose members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen from certain categories, similar to an historic district commission.  The principal business of the fund has been to make low-interest loans for historic preservation or restoration.  We've helped over 100 property owners over the years.

John Worden, Arlington HDC, former president, Arlington Preservation Fund Inc.

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Subject : RE: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 135, Issue 15

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Today's Topics:

1. Initial opinion survey for possible historic districts?
(Christopher Bader)
2. Establishing a quick-action fund with annual CPC request?
(Lee E Caras)

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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:37 -0400

________________________________

All,

I've just re-read the Mass. Historical Commission's very helpful document entitled Establishing Local Historic Districts (LHD's).

It strongly suggests conducting an initial survey about the desirability of establishing an LHD.

My question is, does this have to be entirely conducted by U.S.Mail? I would certainly send U.S. Mail to property owners that might be affected by the LHD, but is there any reason I can't also send out the survey to the community listserve?

Chris Bader
Chair, Medford Historic District Commission
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 15:35:33 -0400

________________________________

The Maynard Historical Commission is investigating the possibility of creating a fund that could be drawn upon for acquisition, restoration, etc., of historical items/ properties when quick action is needed (i.e., not during the annual CPC grant application period). This would be funded by an annual grant application that was not specific to a particular project. Does anyone have experience with such a funding mechanism? -Lee Caras, Clerk, Maynard Historical Commission

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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 30 May 2017 20:05:08 +0000
From: "Tucker, Jonathan" <tuckerj at amherstma.gov>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Historic Windows
To: "'Ttorwig at aol.com'" <Ttorwig at aol.com>
Cc: "masshistpres at cs.umb.edu" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
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Dear Mr. Orwig:

In 2014, Amherst Town Meeting appropriated CPA funds for restoration of "The Angel of the Lilies," a large Tiffany window in the front fa?ade of our local Unitarian meetinghouse.  The meetinghouse had a couple of John La Farge stained glass windows, as well.

Prior to seeking local CPA funding or having any restoration work done, the Unitarian Society sought professional help.  They obtained the services of Julie L. Sloan, a stained glass consultant located in North Adams, to evaluate the windows and address their restoration needs.  Her work was very professional and complete.

Her website can be found here:

http://www.jlsloan.com/ .

I hope that's useful.

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

Quoting Ttorwig at aol.com:

> What would be the procedure to evaluate, preserve, and possibly
> restore a set of Tiffany pattern-glass windows? I've had a request for
> information from a church that wants to do the right thing. Where do
> they start?  Whom do they contact?
>
> Tim Orwig, Architectural Historian
> Wareham

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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 31 May 2017 14:13:48 +0000
From: Russ Feldman <rfeldman at tbaarchitects.com>
Subject: [MassHistPres] local historic district process
To: "masshistpres at cs.umb.edu" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
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I'm a board member of Historic Newton, a public private partnership (since 1950) between a city department and a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit.  We're independent of the local historical commission and are considering our role in relation to creating local historic districts.  Are there other communities' historic societies or similar groups that have adopted policies that provide guidance for this?
Thanks in advance for any information or examples.

M. Russel Feldman, AIA, NCARB, Principal TBA Architects, Inc.
43 Bradford Street Suite 300
Concord, MA 01742
rfeldman at tbaarchitects.com<mailto:rfeldman at tbaarchitects.com>
Office   (781) 893-5828
Mobile (617) 429-5033

A+ Accredited by the Better Business Bureau

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