[MassHistPres] Incentive zoning in a local historic district

[cvwtc at aol.com]

Beverly created a downtown Tax Increment Financing zone right into an area that would soon become a National Register District in order to encourage the construction of buildings over 75 ft.  One city councilor was upset this zone included the individually listed historic train depot so he worked to get the boundaries of this TIF zone redrawn.  The depot no longer included in the zone.  As we have seen many times, if the political will is there, preservation can be encouraged.  If it's not, demolitions might not be too far away.  It seems Melrose isn't placing a high priority on LHDs.   Matt PujoBeverly, MA      


-----Original Message-----
From: Ward Hamilton <melrosehistcomm at gmail.com>
To: MHC List Serv <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Thu, May 6, 2021 12:08 pm
Subject: [MassHistPres] Incentive zoning in a local historic district

There is an order before the Melrose City Council to amend a revised zoning ordinance and to create incentive zoning provisions. As the attached images illustrate, this zone overlaps a portion of the local historic district (LHD) presently under the watch of the Historic District Commission (HDC).
This order seeks to incentivize development within an MGL 40c LHD. Because the affected parcels are already developed, redevelopment will necessitate demolition. Nine contributing buildings that help define the streetscape of our downtown historic district will be threatened. 
Checking the agendas of the HDC for the past nine months, this topic does not appear to have ever been discussed. The Historical Commission, which is charged with protecting the historical, architectural and archeological resources of the City, has not been consulted either.
Has anyone seen incentive zoning introduced into local historic districts elsewhere? Thanks.



Ward Hamilton 
Chairman
Melrose Historical Commission _______________________________________________
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