[MassHistPres] Demolition of a newton local landmark

[George Triantaris]

In cases like this, some towns have required the offender to rebuild the house exactly as it was. Although it does not replace the lost house at least it prevents the developer from building a large new house on the lot and profiting by tearing down the historic structure.

George Triantaris 
Harvard Historical Commission 

> On May 2, 2021, at 7:36 PM, masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Demolition of a Newton Local Landmark (WN Hill Preservation)
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 2 May 2021 07:05:07 -0400
> From: WN Hill Preservation <wnhpreservation at gmail.com>
> To: MHC MHC listserve <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Demolition of a Newton Local Landmark
> Message-ID:
>    <CA+WbQ-sBvXQb_2ZtgDcdWG+D+npcXAHiFR0o+vQundrUt+k+ow at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> We discovered last week that a builder has demolished an 18th
> century farmhouse, one of Newton's 24 Local Landmarks
> <https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/historic-preservation/newton-city-landmarks>.
> This took place 3 months after the sale to a developer, despite very
> specific preservation measures discussed at length and agreed with the
> Historical Commission, and a stop work order from the inspectional
> department.
> 
> The farmhouse in our Oak Hill neighborhood originally belonged to the Hyde
> family, ancestors of the first mayor when the city was incorporated,James
> F. C. Hyde <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_F._C._Hyde>.
> 
> We are interested to learn from others if you have had something like this
> occur and how it was handled, including penalties. There is a strong
> concern that if this builder gets away with a light penalty that gives a
> green light to others.
> 
> Another note is that the property was listed by the realtor
> <https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/29-Greenwood-St_Newton_MA_02459_M36199-25165>
> as "shovel ready" ... "get to work with your backhoe on day one."
> 
> Laura Foote
> West Newton Hill Preservation Initiative
> 
> 
> 
> wnhpreservation at gmail.com
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