[MassHistPres] Historic District Assistance Request

[gtpye at verizon.net]

Duxbury’s Local Historic District Commission developed a “Myth Busters” handout and brochure and also put both on the Town website for the LHDC which outlines all the things that owners can do without enforcement for changes for their LHD property.  It has been a help for reassurance and understanding of what the commitment is.  We also did a video which outlines the whys and wherefores for the process for an application to put a property in a LHD.  It is definitely our efforts for a PR approach to get people on board and comfortable with volunteering their property for the preservation protection while still they are living in the property in 2024.

Georgia Taft Pye

Duxbury LHDC

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of cdw via MassHistPres
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:44 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Historic District Assistance Request

 

Hello,

 

The town of Upton Massachusetts currently has a state and federally listed Historic District. However, our current Historic District does not have any real protections besides a demolition delay bylaw. 

 

In the 1990s, Upton attempted to pass a Historic District bylaw but it was not voted into law by the residents of Upton because they were concerned that the Historical Commission would enforce design standards on individual homes which would prevent residents from adding porches, painting their house the color that they want, and generally restricting freedoms of their properties. 

 

With the popularity of 40B complexes and business overlay districts, there seems to be a new threat to our community and the very real possibility that our town may lose very special historic homes in our Historic District. With that being said, the Historical Commission would like to re-introduce the Historic District bylaw. 

 

I was wondering if anyone on the listserv might be able to provide advice and/or guidance about how they successfully introduced a Historic District bylaw into their towns, perhaps share the verbiage that you used for the bylaw and also share any pitfalls that might be avoided.  Thanks so much for your help and assistance!

 

Sincerely,

Craig

 

 

 

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