[MassHistPres] Updates from the Massachusetts Historical Commission

[Doherty, Jennifer @ SEC]

Updates from the Massachusetts Historical Commission

FY24 MHC Survey & Planning Grant Awards
At its March 13, 2024 meeting, the MHC awarded its FY24 Survey & Planning Grants<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhchpp/Surveyandplanning.htm>.* These 50% reimbursable matching grants are available to communities for survey, planning, and documentation efforts that support local and statewide preservation goals. Each year the MHC must pass-through 10% of our federal funding to Certified Local Governments (CLGs), which we do through the Survey & Planning Grant program.

Congratulations to all of the communities we will be working with in the coming year!

Certified Local Governments
Boston, East Boston Survey Update, Phase II
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Town-Wide Historic Properties Survey, Target Area I
Newton, Newton Architectural Survey 1940 to 1975
Salem, Fort Lee Preservation and Management Plan
Worcester, Worcester Historic Survey of Environmental Justice Neighborhoods

Non-Certified Local Governments
Abington, Abington Historic Properties Survey Update
Holliston, Village Commercial District Historic Resource Inventory
Ipswich, Ipswich Survey Master Plan
Lunenburg, Lunenburg Historic Properties Survey
New Braintree, New Braintree Town Center National Register Nomination
Whitman, Whitman Inventory of Historic Resources II

*Pending final federal budget


Our Newest CLG, Manchester-by-the-Sea!
Congratulations to Manchester-by-the-Sea, which became a Certified Local Government in early March! Manchester joins 29 other Massachusetts communities in the CLG program<https://www.nps.gov/subjects/clg/index.htm>. In this program, the MHC, with concurrence from the National Park Service, certifies communities that have a high level of preservation activity and interest. There are several benefits to becoming a CLG:

*         Increased participation in the National Register of Historic Places listing process

*         Dedicated funding in the MHC's Survey & Planning Grant program

*         Eligibility for additional funding and technical assistance from the MHC and the National Park Service

The Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea established its local historic district and historical commission in 1975, and adopted the Community Preservation Act in 2005. The Historic District Commission, acting as a combined commission, has recently been working on drafting an historic resources survey plan, and will be starting to systematically update the community's inventory of historic resources, which was largely completed in the 1970s. Being a CLG will allow Manchester to apply for priority funding through MHC's Survey & Planning Grant program to do this new inventory work.

If your community is interested in becoming a CLG, please contact Jenn Doherty, Local Government Programs Coordinator and state CLG Coordinator, at Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us>. Please note that your community must have a local historic district or local landmark bylaw/ordinance to become a CLG.


Eastern MA Historical Commission Coalition Meeting on Demolition Delay
In early February, the Eastern MA Historical Commission Coalition, hosted by the MHC, MAPC, and Preservation Massachusetts, held a session on implementing demolition delay. Patti Kelleher talked about Salem's efforts to improve their ordinance; Ryan Hayward detailed Medford's work during the delay period; and Peter Johnson reviewed efforts in Hanover to move a building. It was an informative session for any community with demolition delay. The recording is available on MAPC's website<https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/eastern-massachusetts-historical-commission-coalition/>.


Available Funding Opportunities

*         The MHC is currently accepting applications to the Maritime Heritage Grant Program. These 50% matching grants are available to local governments, non-profit organizations, and tribal entities to advance maritime heritage through public education and expand public access to maritime history through multiple educational platforms. Applications are due Monday, April 8, 2024; more information is available on the MHC's website<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/maritime/mhesp.htm>.

*         The Pioneer Valley Ventures Center was awarded a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/paul-bruhn-grants-23.htm> from the National Park Service. Through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), they will be awarding grants from $50,000 to $100,000 for preservation work on National Register-listed buildings. Projects must be located in rural Pioneer Valley/southwestern Worcester County communities. Review the project website<https://www.pvpc.org/content/preservation-works-western-mass-bruhn-sub-grant-program> for more eligibility details. Expressions of Interest<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oDMJUH7PS9qZLrSOm6g5a1mY-fTQl1C9T_p8-kGcI5I/viewform?edit_requested=true> are due Friday, April 12, 2024. Questions should be directed to PVPC's Historic Preservation Planner, Shannon Walsh, swalsh at pvpc.org<mailto:swalsh at pvpc.org> or (413) 781-6045.


Updates from our Federal Partners

*         Congratulations to Provincetown Community Compact, which received a National Park Service Underrepresented Communities grant<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-service-awards-1-25-million-to-recognize-historic-underrepresented-communities.htm>. It will be used to amend the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Provincetown Historic District to document the significance of the community's LGBTQ history.

*         Congratulations to the Arlington Street Church in Boston, which received a National Park Service History of Equal Rights grant<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-service-awards-$5-million-to-help-preserve-america-s-equal-rights-history.htm> for repairs to stairs and accessibility improvements.

*         FEMA has issued a fact sheet<https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_art-culture-fact-sheet_012024.pdf> focused on arts, culture and disasters.

*         In supported of their updated Preservation Brief 16<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-16-substitute-materials-2023.pdf> on the use of substitute materials in historic buildings, the National Park Service will be hosting a webinar on April 25 from 2-3:30. Visit their website<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/webinars.htm#substitute> for more information and to register.

*         The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has recently issued a number of new or updated policy statements<https://www.achp.gov/preservation-policy>, including ones on current topics such as housing and climate change. While the ACHP is a federal agency, these policy statements are intended to guide preservation activities at the federal, state, and local level. Recent talks by the chair and staff detailing the policy statements are available on the ACHP's YouTube channel<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChReeJ63BktsEqSidL396Ng>.


Recent National Register of Historic Places Listings

*         Boston, Lenox Street Apartments Historic District

*         Boston, Uphams Corner Historic District

*         Fall River, Bradford Durfee Textile School

*         Tisbury, US Marine Hospital at Vineyard Haven


Recent Local Historic Districts/Local Landmarks

*         Boston (Dorchester), Industrial School for Girls

*         Boston (Downtown), Parker House

*         Mendon, Jotham Hayward Homestead Historic District

*         Mendon, Washington Street Local Historic District


Upcoming Events and Learning Opportunities

*         March 25, 1 pm: MHC virtual workshop, "Establishing Local Historic Districts," register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/789411720707?aff=oddtdtcreator>

*         April 6: Vernacular Architecture Form, New England Chapter annual meeting in Providence, RI, more information here<https://www.vafweb.org/NE>

*         April 25, 2 pm: National Park Service webinar, "Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors," more information here<https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/webinars.htm#substitute>

*         April 26, 10 am: MHC virtual workshop, "Developing an Historic Preservation Plan," register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/789402743857?aff=oddtdtcreator>


Update the MHC!
Membership or officer changes on your commission? Be sure to update the MHC! Please send any new member or officer information to Jenn Doherty, Local Government Programs Coordinator, at Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us>.


Jennifer B. Doherty
Local Government Programs Coordinator
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3314
Office: (617) 727-8470
Remote: (617) 807-0685
Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us>

Register for virtual workshops<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcotr/otridx.htm>

As of August 1, 2023, emails to Jennifer.Doherty at state.ma.us will no longer be delivered. Please update your contact information.

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