[MassHistPres] Fw: Fwd: Mass Audubon demolishes 1696 house inNatick

[Chris Skelly]

Hi Ralph, as I understand it, the building was not part of an MGL Chapter
40C Local Historic District but was subject to the demolition delay bylaw.
The building was demolished as soon as the delay expired.

Although a very different building, the case study and success story of the
Willys Overland Building in Springfield is highly applicable.  While the
Willys Overland building was under demolition delay, the city established a
single building local historic district.  Reading and Hopkinton have also
established local historic districts during a demolition delay period.

Being from Springfield, I know you know more about this building than me so
I hope you’ll share some more about how the building was not only saved
from demolition but rehabilitated into housing. It is a great example of
successfully using all the tools of preservation planning and I’ve even
used it in presentations out of state.

https://springfieldpreservation.org/willys-overland/
*Chris Skelly*
*Skelly Preservation Services*
Community Planning and Preservation
www.skellypreservationservices.com
ccskelly12 at gmail.com

On Wed, Mar 5, 2025 at 7:18 AM Ralph Slate via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> Can someone educate me here? Was the building in question covered by a MGL
> 40C Local Historic District? If so, wouldn't that have greatly slowed
> demolition, until the owner could demonstrate that "not demolishing the
> building" was a greater hardship than the impact of demolition to the
> District?
>
> I don't understand how historic resources are managed in Eastern MA, but
> in Springfield a building like this in a local historic district could be
> blocked from demolition unless it was demonstrably in un-repairable
> condition.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ralph Slate
> Springfield, MA
>
>
>
> On 3/3/2025 4:34 PM, David Feigenbaum via MassHistPres 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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