[MassHistPres] impact of Demo Delay over 6 months

[Dennis De Witt]

With respect to full demolitions (not partials, which generally present different issues and often lead to a better outcome than the ones initially proposed) I’d suggest that in Brookline there have not been many clear full demolition “saves” against a determined developer — with the major exception of having made possible saving the Coolidge Corner Theater.  Developers just wait it out while going though other reviews.  However, (ignoring one single-property LHD), all of Brookline’s six multi-property LHDs created since we have had demolition delay were triggered by the synergy of a neighborhood rallying to save a house during a delay.  Non-NR property delays are 12 months, which does not always give an opportunity to get an LHD thru Town Meeting and the AG’s approval, depending on when the delay is triggered.  NR property delays are 18 months.

BTW, recently there was a case where a delay had timed out on a mansard house (converted to offices) on one of the five streets in Brookline where the planning board has design review.  It asserted, for the first time in many years, that demolition was a reviewable facade change (and perhaps it didn’t care much for the proposed design) and it recommended denial of a 3 story box replacement building.  The ZBA concurred.  The developer is now coming back with a one-story “tax payer” design.  It does not seem obvious why they think that would be better received.

Dennis De Witt
Brookline

> On May 11, 2023, at 11:43 AM, RafaelRobertDelfin via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
> 
> During my historical commission's meeting last Tuesday, we discussed the possibility of extending the demolition delay by-law in our town of Dighton from 6 months to 12-18 months. A question was brought up during the discussion: In towns that have demolition delay by-law of over six months, how successful have these towns been as far as preserving historical structures? I would appreciate any response.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Rafa Delfin
> Vice-Chair, Dighton Historical Commission