[MassHistPres] Demolition Review Bylaw

[rcsmitharch at verizon.net]

Often it takes a galvanizing event for the public to understand the impact of losing a significant historic building.  In NYC it was the loss of the old Penn Station.  In Swampscott, it was the loss of Captain Jack's, an old hotel that occupied three smallish historic houses and their replacement by a single large condo building that blocked ocean views from the downtown street.

Attached are Q&A documents that were used in Beverly and Swampscott to promote passage of a demo delay bylaw.

Richard Smith
Adams & Smith LLC
55 Thomas Road
Swampscott, MA 01907
(617) 512-5697


________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Frank Messina via MassHistPres <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 7:02 AM
To: krissy o'shea <krissyoshea at gmail.com>; MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Demolition Review Bylaw

Hi,
Was a demo delay or demo review passed at Town meeting or by legislature body?
If so, it was voted by the Town. If not and the Historical Commission sees a need as you are loosing historically significant homes...there is a problem...the Town is loosing its historically significant.

Historically significant properties can increase the value of homes and the community. So impact sales is nonsense.

Property rights is nonsense...if a historical commission was authorized,  it is your responsibility to help identify and save the historical integrity of the community.

Delay...yes, if you are about to loose a historically significant home...that is the purpose of Review and hopefully a demolition delay...we have 18 months in Chatham...still loosing historically significant homes..

Good luck

Frank Messina
Chatham Historical Commission Chairman


Ps...What Town?


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________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of krissy o'shea via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 8:03:07 AM
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Demolition Review Bylaw

Hi All

Currently working on a proposal for a Demo Review Bylaw and the biggest opponents have continuously sited burden to property owners - delay impacts sales, infringement on property rights,

I am wondering if others have faced similar feedback and what worked in terms of a successful  response

many thanks
Krissy

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