[MassHistPres] Demo Delay Definition of Demolition

[William Dickinson]

George,

We wanted more control, so adopted 25% of a single facade for our demo
delay by-law.  Working with the building inspector we also included some
clarifications and exclusions for maintenance that we did not want to
review.

Bill Dickinson - Chair
Acton Historical Commission

*2.2 "Demolition" - any act of pulling down, destroying, removing, or
razing a building or more than 25% of any single façade or any significant
architectural or structural feature visible from the exterior of the
building, or commencing the work of total or substantial destruction with
the intent of completing the same; demolition does not include the mere
replacement of roofing, siding, windows, or trim for maintenance or repair.
For purposes hereof, “significant architectural or structural features”
include but are not limited to porticos, bay windows, roof lines, dormers,
or other unique features of a building.*

On Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 9:57 AM George Triantaris via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> We are in the process of drafting a demolition delay bylaw for Harvard
> Mass and I wonder if any towns have included a definition of "substantial
> demolition" which is referenced but not defined in the boilerplate sample
> bylaw supplied by the Commonwealth.
>
> DEMOLITION - Any act of pulling down, destroying, removing, moving,
> dismantling or razing a building or commencing the work of total or
> substantial destruction with the intent of completing the same.
>
> I am worried that without a definition of substantial demolition,
> developers will simply leave a small portion of the building such as the
> facade and argue that they have not "demolished" the structure in order to
> get around the bylaw.   Any advice would be most welcome.
>
> --
> Many thanks,
>
> George Triantaris, Chair
> Harvard Historical Commission
> https://www.harvard-ma.gov/historical-commission
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-- 
William Dickinson, AIA
*Dickinson Architects, LLC*
*91 Main Street, Concord, MA   01742*
Bill at DickinsonArc.com
www.DickinsonArc.com <http://www.dickinsonarc.com/>
978-341-8267
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