[MassHistPres] Abandoned Property

[ellen.l.carlson at comcast.net]

We are contemplating appealing to the AG's Abandoned House initiative to protect a prominent historic residential property in town.  The owner of record lives in another state and has for all intents and purposes abandoned the property.  The grounds are not being maintained and the interior of a prominent outbuilding has been left exposed to the elements.  The condition of the main house is unconfirmed.  This is not a hardship situation, the owner has expressed their desire to abandon the property.  The property has been vacant for nearly a decade.

Does anyone have experience working with the Abandoned House initiative to address a historic property under similar circumstances?  Do you have any guidance regarding best practices in working through this program to meet historic preservation objectives?

Thanks!

Ellen Carlson
Sandwich Historical Commission

Sent from my iPhone