[MassHistPres] Preservation restrictions on homes

[Trish Selby]

Hi Betsy,

We actually declined to make an offer on one house because of extreme restrictions placed on the land, home and barn by the prior owner who did just as you mentioned. She privately worked with Historic New England to add restrictions to her deed. This is the organization. 

https://www.historicnewengland.org/preservation/for-homeowners-communities/

We did buy an historic home eventually, but there is preservation and then there is preservation. If you want to make as certain as you can that your place is preserved, I’d start with them. 

Cheers,
Trish Selby
Baker Street Historic District Commission

> On Feb 2, 2021, at 2:43 PM, Betsy Hannula <betsyhannula at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Does anyone know of an example of a homeowner who has created a preservation restriction for his own home?  As the owner of a home built in 1755, I have always believed that we are caretakers of this home, and hopefully it will be preserved indefinitely.  My concern is that developers are everywhere in my home town of Westminster, and most are purchasing the old homes and demolishing them before building new monstrosities.  Our Historical Commission is working on a Demolition Delay By-law, but, in the end, that is not an absolute certainty for preserving all the older homes.
> 
> I realize it would make it more difficult for my heirs to sell this house, if they need to, but I think it might be worth it, to wait to find the right buyer who really wanted to live in a beautiful home of a different century.
> 
> 
>  
> 
> -- 
> Betsy Hannula
> 978-874-0430
> BetsyHannula at gmail.com
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