[MassHistPres] Asking again - Demo Delay

[Gretchen Schuler]

I think that the reason most like demolition delay to run with the
owner is to avoid people who are thinking of putting a property on the
market - applying for demo delay - so that the clock starts and they
are lining up the building(s) to be demolished sooner than later.  If
a new owner has to reapply then the clock begins again.  Years ago
when I worked in a Massachusetts community that was experiencing a hot
real estate market - owners were applying even before putting a house
on the market just to tee it up for all possibilities.  If by the time
you close 1/2 or 3/4 of the delay has passed by it can be more
lucrative for one who wants to demolish if the delay runs with the
property rather than the owner.
Gretchen Schuler
Wayland Historic District Commission

On Sun, Jul 17, 2022 at 12:51 PM A Ciaccio <aciaccio at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I’m curious why you wish to change it? Our town (Wayland) doesn’t have a demo delay law, but my preference would be to have it run with the property.
>
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> ________________________________
> From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Melissa Saalfield <mjc.saalfield at gmail.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2022 12:59:01 PM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Asking again - Demo Delay
>
> Dear Fellow Massachusetts communities,
>
> Last week I asked about a particular aspect of a town's demo delay bylaw; specifically if the delay runs with the property or is attached to the property owner.  The following towns replied to me:
>
> Brookline
> Chatham
> Duxbury
> Kingston
> Lexington
> Maynard
> Newton
> Somerville
> Weston
> Winchester
>
> I had heard from Hopkinton, Lunenburg, and Swampscott, but I was not clear about their answer so I would appreciate it if you might respond again.
>
> As for other towns that have the demo delay bylaw on their books, could you please respond and let me know if your delay attaches to the property or to the property owner.  I am trying to build a case for Concord which currently has our delay run with the property.  Though this may be a small amendment, we are hoping it provides a bit more teeth to the bylaw.
>
> Many thanks to all of you.
>
> Melissa Saalfield, Chair
> Concord Historical Commission
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