[MassHistPres] district & preservation advice

[Anne Lusk]

Dear Joe and All,
  With climate change and our extensive heat, heavy rains, and drought, I
would suggest that historic preservation needs to take a new tact. The
often used phrase of the “greenest home is … one that is already built”
(Carl Elefante, FIAI), isn't enough because it only focuses on the
building. Even the recommendation for taking pictures of historic
properties recommends capturing only the building and not the lawn, shrubs,
and trees.  The building holds carbon but it is a set amount that doesn't
increase each year while the lawns and trees, especially if well
maintained, store ever increasing amounts of carbon each year, serve as
reservoirs for the deluges, and slow runoff. The lawns and trees also cool
the area, lessening heat island and making it possible to grow vegetables
without extensive watering.  Well maintained lawns regenerate the dirt and
add depth to the soil.
    The new Secretary of the Interior is an American Indian and he wants to
focus on research and climate change. I made the above pitch to the head of
the National Trust for Historic Preservation but the response was that
maybe the lawns and trees could be written as part of the existing National
Trust for Historic Places or LHD applications.  I know, though, that there
are no headings or sections under which to showcase the square feet of lawn
(no inclusion of hardscape such as the driveway or patio) or the caliper
and number of trees on the property.
      Therefore, Joe, would Leicester consider adding new measures to your
architectural conservation district so that, in Massachusetts, we develop
and test an accurate and climate-responsive value for the state's historic
properties?
Anne Lusk, Ph.D. (written on a very hot and dry day in August in Brookline)

On Mon, Aug 8, 2022 at 1:22 PM Doherty, Jennifer (SEC) <
jennifer.doherty2 at state.ma.us> wrote:

> Hi Joe,
>
> First, you’ll find that very few communities have adopted architectural
> preservation/neighborhood conservation/architectural conservation
> districts. Some of the major ones are Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and
> Lexington. Folks from those communities, or a visit to their websites,
> might help you with design guidelines. Most communities adopt local
> historic districts under MGL Chapter 40C, rather than architectural
> conservation districts.
>
>
>
> In terms of disposal, you will need to speak with your Town Counsel about
> options. If the Town is concerned about the preservation of the buildings,
> you will want a way to dispose of them that incorporates proposals, not
> just a highest bidder situation. Many communities have done Requests for
> Proposals to dispose of historic properties for redevelopment.
>
>
>
> Finally, the properties are already somewhat protected by the
> architectural conservation district. A preservation restriction is the
> strongest form of protection for a property. It is a legally-binding
> covenant that runs with the land and grants a third party government or
> non-profit entity the right to review and approve all changes to the
> property. Unlike architectural conservation or local historic districts,
> preservation restrictions can cover the interior and exterior of a property
> and areas not visible from the public way. The MHC needs to review and
> approve all preservation restrictions held in perpetuity, so if this is
> something you are interested in please reach out to us early in the process.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jenn
>
>
>
>
>
> *Jennifer B. Doherty*
>
> Local Government Programs Coordinator
>
> Massachusetts Historical Commission
>
> 220 Morrissey Boulevard
>
> Boston, MA 02125-3314
>
> Office: (617) 727-8470
>
> Remote: (617) 807-0685
>
> Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us
>
>
>
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>
>
>
> *From:* jlennerton at aol.com <jlennerton at aol.com>
> *Sent:* Monday, August 8, 2022 1:07 PM
> *To:* masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> *Cc:* Doherty, Jennifer (SEC) <Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us>
> *Subject:* district & preservation advice
>
>
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth
> of Massachusetts mail system.  Do not click on links or open attachments
> unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> Hello everyone
>
> The town of Leicester at special town meeting last fall purchased the
> former Leicester campus of Becker College. This encircles a number of
> historic homes (including a documented stop on the Underground Railroad)
> and properties around a large section of the town common.
>
>
>
> Some of the buildings will be retained for use as a new high school campus
> while many other of the historic houses will be sold.
>
>
>
> When it was learned the college was going to close, the town voted to
> create an architectural conservation district in the area; this occurred
> months before the town purchased the property.
>
>
>
> The historical commission is seeking some specific advice:
>
> 1. What other cities and towns have an architectural conservation district
> and what specific guidelines do other architectural districts operate under?
>
> 2. How should the town dispose of the unwanted properties? There is talk
> of a public auction, but the historical commission has been getting strong
> advice that this is *not* the way to go.
>
> 3. What kinds of specific preservation deeded covenants would be helpful
> for these properties?
>
>
>
> Thank you
>
> Joe Lennerton
>
> Leicester Historical Commisison
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