[MassHistPres] Demo Delay Definition of Demolition

[Garrett Laws]

Does your building department have the identical definition of demolition?

I would like to see a survey of answers to that question as unscrupulous
developers could use that against a city or town.

Garrett Laws
Copper and Slate
Waltham

On Friday, November 3, 2023, William Dickinson via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
>>
>
>
> --
> 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
>


-- 

Many Thanks,
Garrett Laws

The Copper & Slate Company <https://copperandslate.net>

Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/copperandslatecompany/>

The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
Fine Roofing and Historic Carpentry
238 Calvary Street,
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 893-1916

*LEAD FREE SINCE 2008*
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