[MassHistPres] Demo by neglect bylaw violation by the town

[Craig Dalton]

The Kingston Historical Commission also tried to save one of our early
"modern" schools on Maple Ave.  It too was used for years by the town as an
ancillary building
then abandoned, with files and equipment strewn about.  Neighbors started
complaining and by the time the Commission was able to acquire supporters
for affordable housing, plans and some funding,
with the rest to come from CPA, the neighbors wanted nothing of it.  They
wanted it down, and the Selectmen at that time, instead of supporting a
project that would have provided two affordable units and put a
preservation restriction on the exterior,  went with the vocal residents.
The Demo Delay kicked in.  The selectmen locked us out of the building, and
after our waiting period, the building was demolished on site,
with records and equipment buried too.  Now there is a small vacant lot in
the neighborhood.  It was supposed to be a playground, but now just
provides access to the Police Station back lot.

Lesson learned is DON'T WAIT until it deteriorates too much before seeking
new use and cash for that use.

Craig Dalton
Chair, Kingston Historical Commission

On Sat, Aug 28, 2021 at 7:06 AM Elizabeth Ware <eware at dracutma.gov> wrote:

> The Town of Dracut had the 1905 Dracut Centre School, which was built as a
> four-room school house.  The original interior is untouched, the
> chalkboards still in place and coat hooks and built in oak benches still in
> place.  A terrific building that the Town did not spend a dime of for over
> two decades and commonly used the building for fire dept. training.  I was
> told by many to get a wrecking ball to the site, but the building is solid,
> with a Monson black slate roof and strong foundation.
>
>
>
> When I started working in Dracut 6 years ago, one of my first tasks was to
> figure out what to use the school for.  Ideally, it should have been a
> maker’s space or eastern office for the Council on Aging but the Town
> Manager interceded and deemed that it was going to be nine units of
> affordable housing, with veteran’s preference.
>
>
>
> The project is underway with a $2.8 Small Scale Community grant from DHCD,
> a $200k Housing Choice grant and a $1.2M grant from the Dracut Community
> Preservation Committee.  The town gave the building, assessed at almost
> $400k, to the developer for a dollar.
>
>
>
> In addition to these funds, the developer has secured a lot of funds in
> state historic tax credits………………..all good news.
>
>
>
> The bad news from an affordable housing perspective is that the state is
> allowing the cost for each unit to be about $550k!
>
>
>
> I’m sure that the renovation will come out well and will be well
> maintained over the years…. And it beats the wrecking ball!
>
>
>
> Betsy Ware
>
>
>
> Director of Community Development
>
> Town of Dracut, Ma.
>
> Tel: 978-453-4557
>
>
>
> *From:* MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] *On Behalf
> Of *anne forbes
> *Sent:* Friday, August 27, 2021 10:05 AM
> *To:* mastermasonmcgrath at gmail.com; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] Demo by neglect bylaw violation by the town
>
>
>
> *[EXTERNAL]* This message originated from outside the Town of Dracut. Use
> caution when opening attachments, clicking links or responding to requests
> for information.
>
> These are excellent questions.  I can sympathize, because here in Acton
> our town-owned Morrison Farm, with its early 1930s farmhouse and barn, is
> in a similar situation.  Unfortunately, though, town-owned buildings are
> specifically exempt from our Demo. Delay Bylaw.
>
>
>
> So that example can't help you..  But in your negotiations with the town,
> you will probably be discussing possible funding sources for a rehab., and
> new uses for the building. Here are two in the Lunenberg area:  Several
> years ago the 1920s *Acton High School* was rehabbed for housing by a
> developer who worked with the Acton Community Housing Corporation, placed
> it on the National Register, and used both(?) state and federal
> preservation tax credits to fund the rehab. You may also get some
> inspiration, at least, by checking with the Groton Historical Commission
> about their 1870s/1920s* Groton High School* building.  It was placed on
> the National Register about ten years ago and was in use then, but I
> haven't heard how it's been treated or managed since.   I'm sure the
> NR-listing at least opened up possibilities for preservation grant
> funding.
>
>
>
> Anne Forbes
>
> Acton
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard McGrath <mastermasonmcgrath at gmail.com>
> To: Masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Wed, Aug 25, 2021 10:44 pm
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Demo by neglect bylaw violation by the town
>
> Greetings! The town of Lunenburg has a vacant 1929 brick high school that
> has been vacant for 10 years, or so, and has been undergoing demolition by
> neglect because the town has refused to properly mothball the building.
> Demolition by Neglect is a violation of the town bylaw. The Selectboard
> says that they can't properly mothball the building because the public has
> not authorized them to spend the money to do so.
>
>
>
> My questions are, can a town be in violation of its own law? Is there some
> way that they can be held accountable? Is there anything that the state can
> do? If a town can just disregard its own bylaws and continue on as it
> pleases, or as it is dictated to by the public, what is the purpose of
> having the law? A citizen cannot disregard the law. How is it that a
> selectboard can?
>
>
>
> Has anyone had an experience with a situation like this.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Richard McGrath, Chair
>
> Lunenburg APDC
>
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