[MassHistPres] Demolition of a Newton Local Landmark

[Garrett Laws]

Laura,

Is this the listing to the property?

https://www.estately.com/listings/info/29-greenwood-st--3

This listing CLEARY states that the house has to be retained and restored.
I think you would be hard pressed (based on my reading of the listing) to
impose penalties on the real estate agents involved. The developer on the
other hand likely has problems in their future that may (should?) include
rebuilding the farm house, not being allowed to build on the site,
potential loss / suspension of their construction supervisors license and
fines and penalties.

I think there are a LOT of ways to address this property and send a message
that the same consequences will be brought statewide to others that
contemplate taking the ask for forgiveness not permission approach.

Garrett
Copper & Slate

On Saturday, May 8, 2021, Edward Andrews <edandrews at earthlink.net> wrote:

>
>
> There have been more than a few instances in which the courts have
> required the builder to re-build the landmark building it has demolished.
> I would not accept anything less than this; The builder has robbed your
> town of its heritage.  Steps should be taken to salvage the original
> materials.
>
>
>
> In London, there is a recent example of this; An English court required
> that the Carleton Pub be re-built.  See  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/
> 04/14/world/carlton-tavern-london-pub.html
>
>
>
> Edward Andrews
>
> Shaker Farm
>
> Richmond, Mass.
>
>
>
> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> *On Behalf Of *WN
> Hill Preservation
> *Sent:* Sunday, May 2, 2021 7:05 AM
> *To:* MHC MHC listserve <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Demolition of a Newton Local Landmark
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>


-- 

Many Thanks,
Garrett Laws

www.copperandslate.net
The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
Fine Roofing and Historic Carpentry
238 Calvary Street,
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 893-1916

*LEAD FREE SINCE 2008*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20210508/a5e707ad/attachment.html>