[MassHistPres] Historic Commission Advocacy

[John Worden]

If the historical commission is not going to be the advocate who s?  In a sad example in our Town, the high school building committee decided to tear down our historic high school buildings (1914 and 1932) to build an entirely new school, of a bland modern design, filling up the majority of the spacious front lawn that had always set off the school, the 1932 building being a copy of the facade of the State House, and having served as the symbol of the school ever since it was built.  It was dedicated to the men from our Town who had served and those who died in the First World War.

 

The historical commission, at our instigation, voted to put the buildings on the inventory and submit to the Mass, Historical Commission. Then they sat on the process for seven months, and finally a volunteer completed the application, which they promised to submit.  However, a recent inquire y to MHC revealed no such filing.

 

The buildings were named as one of the 11 most endangered resources in the state by Preservation Massachusetts.

 

The local historical society refused to say a word in defense of these buildings.  The HDC, which unfortunately had no jurisdiction, voted to support preservation.

 

John Worden

Arlington HDC

John L. Worden III, Esq.
Simonds, Winslow, Willis & Abbott, P.A.
50 Congress Street, Suite 925
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(617) 227-8662
(617 227-1961 -  fax

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From: MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of cvwtc at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2019 10:28 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Historic Commission Advocacy

 

In the past I have been told that one of the roles of a local historic commission is to be an advocate for endangered properties.  This sounds nice but how do commissions put these words into practice when city or town leaders favor demolition and new growth to preservation?  Recently, my hometown's historic commission debated sending a letter to the planning board to advocate for the preservation of an endangered National Register District but some felt this went beyond their purview and would be inappropriate.  Thoughts?     

 

Matt Pujo

 

No Country for Old Buildings

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