[MassHistPres] Demolition Delay - Age of buildings

[Dennis De Witt]

Brookline reviews all demolitions, partial (if they meet certain % thresholds) and whole.  Non-NRs get 12 months.  NRs get 18 months.  Delayed demos have triggered 5 of the seven multi-building LHDs.  An extension of one LHD is going to Town Meeting in the spring, triggered by a demo proposal for two buildings.  Another for a thematic district with some non-contiguous sites will probably go to Town Meeting in the fall, triggered by three proposed demos, including HH Richardson’s house and J.C. Olmsted’s house.

A 12 month delay can be problematic because, depending on when it is imposed, there may not be time to get it to Town Meeting and approved by the AG before the 12 months expires.

Dennis De Witt
Brookline

> On Feb 24, 2021, at 11:21 AM, Brian Stripp <brianchevy.71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> in Chelmsford we have a 12 month demolition delay on buildings 75 years and older. We have had some discussion regarding going to 18 months with differing opinions on the effectiveness of that change.
> We find that the determined people/companies look at the delay as a bump in the road.
> I would be interested if any other towns/cities have any tools to make it harder for folks to just wait out the delay period.
> 
> Brian Stripp, Vice-Chair Chelmsford Historical Commission
> 
> On Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 9:44 AM WN Hill Preservation <wnhpreservation at gmail.com <mailto:wnhpreservation at gmail.com>> wrote:
> In Newton, our current demolition delay ordinance applies to buildings 50 years old or older.  There is discussion of changing that, with several proposals on the table.  
> 
> I would be interested to learn of the experience of other towns and cities, if there have been recent changes in your ordinance, and what you have found to be the most effective for preservation.
> 
> Laura Foote
> Director, West Newton Hill Preservation Initiative
> 
> <WNH logo.png>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> WNHpreservation.org <http://wnhpreservation.org/>
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