[MassHistPres] Seeking advice on Greek Revival town house

[Betsy Hannula]

Good Morning,

IN Westminster, the town house built in 1837 was raised and a new first
floor built underneath it in 1870.  It has been vacant since 2007 when a
new town hall was built.  The Selectmen have ignored requests from
community groups to restore the building for community use all these years,
and now two out of three selectmen voted to demolish the building.  It
would be a travesty!
Groups in town still want to save the building and use it since the new
town hall has NO community space.  (For example, the largest room in the
new town hall can accommodate 50 people, while the large hall with stage in
the old town hall can accommodate 200 people.)
An architectural firm 20 years ago said the building was sturdy and
definitely worthy of restoring.
However, one architect who has recently looked at the building believes the
first floor (with brick walls) should be removed and the building taken
down a floor again.  The Dept of Interior guidelines for restoration frown
on that, and most people want to keep the building as it is, with removing
the first floor - if it really needs stabilizing - and putting in a full
foundation (which it presently does not have) and then rebuilding a
sturdier first floor.
My QUESTION is, has any other town been through such a problem?  I'm
thinking the architect is only concerned about the extra money it would
cost to restore the first floor.
We would be far more limited in what can be done with the building if we
eliminated a floor, but the complete demolition of the building is fast
approaching. so we need to find a solution, if we are to present a plan to
the selectmen.

Thank you for any advice you may have.
Betsy Hannula
Westminster Historical Commission


-- 
Betsy Hannula
978-874-0430
BetsyHannula at gmail.com
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