[MassHistPres] Demolition by neglect solutions?

[Wendy Bawabe]

Question from Norwell:

An iconic historic home on a major road in town was finally doomed on April 21, 2022 when the Norwell Building Inspector issued a demolition permit, citing public health and safety concerns. The structure will be razed shortly.

When the home was sold in 2014 to a development company LLC, plans were spoken of to restore the house and, perhaps, add one or two additional houses to the 5-acre site. When wetlands and zoning issues came to light, none of the plans were acted upon. Meanwhile, the building slowly decayed. With the roof failing, water starting to come in, and the rear right corner in a state of partial collapse, the building became unsafe. With no owners on site or nearby, trespassers and vandals accessed the home. Recently the Norwell Police Department, the Norwell Fire Department, and the Norwell Health Department requested the building be deemed an "un-safe structure." Without safe access to the home, marketing the property for sale has become impossible.

There are no Local Historic Districts in Norwell, and no plans for there to be any in the foreseeable future.

Do any towns/Historical Commissions have regulations (other than LHDs) that might have prevented this from happening? The Historical Commission wonders if a fund has ever been set up in a town where monies can be used to stabilize or protect (via fencing?) a structure that is being “demolished by neglect?”

The Commission would like to be pro-active in the future, instead of having to be re-active. We appreciate any thoughts.

Sincerely,

Wendy Bawabe
Norwell Historical Society
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