[MassHistPres] Mass Audubon demolishes 1696 house in Natick

[kate johns]

Chris,
Can a single building local historic district be enacted without the
consent of the owner?
Thanks!
Kate Johns Shaw
Rockport Historical Commission

On Tue, Mar 4, 2025, 8:27 AM Chris Skelly via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> 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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