[MassHistPres] Mass Audubon demolishes 1696 house in Natick

[Chris Skelly]

I think it is worth noting that through the local legislative process, this
house could possibly have been saved.  Was it at all visible from the
public way?  If so, the town could have created an MGL Chapter 40C single
building local historic district.  Demolition could have been prevented
indefinitely.  While the bar to pass any local historic district is high at
a two thirds majority vote of town meeting or city council, I see this,
overall, as an easier hurdle to pass than new state legislation.

Regarding the slow deterioration of the building over time, a minimum
maintenance bylaw could have required basic upkeep to prevent further
decay.  Chris.

*Chris Skelly*
*Skelly Preservation Services*
Community Planning and Preservation
www.skellypreservationservices.com
ccskelly12 at gmail.com

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM David Feigenbaum via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> Stronger state legislation would be a highly effective avenue. Is there an
> advocate on Beacon Hill for legislation to preserve buildings that are
> historic resources of towns?
>
> David Feigenbaum
> Winchester resident
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM sally milne via MassHistPres <
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>
>> Thank you Dennis and Michael for sharing. so sad. i feel as if we
>> continue to lose so many
>> important assets. we need more tools /legislation from the State law
>> makers. . i think anyway , something must change.
>>
>> Sally Urbano
>> Harwich
>> imdividually
>> On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM Steinitz, Michael @ SEC via MassHistPres <
>> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Some time ago I reached out to the Natick Audubon contact person, Aaron
>>> Gouveia, to offer a second opinion to their structural engineer who deemed
>>> the house a total loss. My co-instructor at North Bennet, Michael Burrey
>>> and I were willing to visit the site to determine if the Sawin House might
>>> be a good candidate for students of the Preservation Carpentry program be
>>> involved.  Our offer was rejected.
>>> Dennis De Witt's interpretation of purposeful neglect leading to the
>>> inevitable may be spot on.
>>> As far as describing Mass Audubon as "esteemed", my personal experience
>>> dealing with a manager at the Canton, MA Bird Art site a few years ago left
>>> me with a less than stellar opinion when they chose to demolish an art
>>> installation made by the deceased donor of the 120 acre estate.  Mildred
>>> Morse Allen was an artist and documentary maker who left this amazing gift
>>> to the Audubon Soc only to have an amazing, custom fabricated,  faux motor
>>> yacht room pulled out and her floor to ceiling seascape artwork destroyed.
>>>
>>> Steven O'Shaughnessy
>>> Dept. Head - Preservation Carpentry
>>> North Bennet Street School
>>> Boston
>>>
>>> --
>>> Steven O'Shaughnessy
>>> Dept. Head  - Preservation Carpentry
>>> North Bennet Street School, 150 North Street | 617 227 0155
>>> <617%20227%200155> *270
>>>
>>>
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