[MassHistPres] Forced demo due to health and safety code violations

[Alicia Primer]

Hello
We in Weston have a significant house suffering from demolition by neglect. The Historical Commission paid for a structural engineer to send a drone through the house because the owner claimed the house was too unsafe to enter and wouldn't provide access. The engineer determined that the house was still sound. (Next steps are still unknown...)

I have cc'd the co chair who could provide the name of the engineer who did the work for us.

Good luck.

ALICIA PRIMER

Weston: 781.899.5597
Groton Long Point: 860.536.0035
cell: 781.771.9510

________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Emily Hutchings <ehutchings at beverlyma.gov>
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 4:40 PM
To: Lisa Hassler <lisa at historichomescapecod.com>
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Forced demo due to health and safety code violations

Beverly is interested in responses as well.

Thank you,
Emily Hutchings
Assistant Planning Director, City of Beverly

On Thu, Dec 17, 2020 at 11:18 AM Lisa Hassler <lisa at historichomescapecod.com<mailto:lisa at historichomescapecod.com>> wrote:
>From Lisa Hassler, Sandwich Historical Commission.

We have a historic B & S glass factory building that has a pending demo application.  Being in the historic district, it requires a permit for demolition.  The building inspector has said that, due to the condition of the building, it is a health and safety danger to the public and that if the historic district committee doesn’t vote to demolish, he can order it to be taken down.  The building has various unsafe conditions on the inside, with failing plaster due to a hole that previous owner intentionally poked through the roof, and rodent droppings on floor.  However, the windows and doors are in tact and prevent entrance from the general public.

Has anyone had a similar circumstance?  Could a fence be ordered to be installed rather than demo to protect the public?

Have you been successful in lobbying for the building inspector to order that the building be secured (close windows, cover hole in roof) to prevent further damage.

Have you required the applicant to fund an inspection by an independent third party historic preservation consultant?  If you can’t require the applicant to pay for a 3rd party inspection, have you been able to require the inspection and have it paid by the historical commission or other entity?

Thank you for your help!


Lisa Hassler





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--

Emily Hutchings, AICP

City of Beverly

Assistant Planning Director

978-605-2342

ehutchings at beverlyma.gov<mailto:ehutchings at beverlyma.gov>

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