Today is a wonderful mid-spring day and the perfect time to update the community on our meeting on May 13, 2024. Our agenda has been posted to our website. Be sure to download it and review all the items the Commission plans to review. You can find the agenda by clicking here!
27 Almont Street Public Hearing
The Historical Commission will hold a Public Hearing to determine if the demolition of the well-preserved pre-1855 building at 27 Almont Street is detrimental to the historic resources of the City of Medford.
The Commission views this type of building as a rare and diminishing resource in our built landscape. We encourage residents to voice their opinions on if the preservation of this building is important to the community. You can learn more about the building by reading the MHC inventory form, and the determination of significance letter included below:
Determinations of Significance
The Commission will determine the significance of the following buildings:
- 18 Wedgemere Road
- 9 Trout Avenue
As a reminder, our definition of significance is as follows:
As set forth in Section 48-78, a significant building is any structure, or a portion thereof, which is not within a local historic district subject to regulation under the provisions of MGLA c. 40C, but which:
- Has been listed in or is the subject of a pending application for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; or
- Has been listed in the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places; or
- Was built within 75 years or older and which is determined by the commission to be a significant building as provided by subsection 48-78(d) either because:
a. It is importantly associated with one or more historic persons or events, or with the broad architectural, cultural, political, economic, or social history of the city or the commonwealth; or
b. It is historically or architecturally important in terms of period, style, method of building construction, or association with an important architect or builder, either by itself or in the context of a group of buildings.
The Commission has inventory forms for each of the buildings and will utilize that information to make the determination. The forms are included below.
New Demolition Applications
Following the public hearing, the Commission will receive demolition applications for the properties located at:
- 85 Morton Avenue
The Commission will have an MHC inventory form prepared for this building to learn more about it’s history and prepare to determine significance next month.
The Commission will also receive the application for partial demolition of the building located at 38 Pearl Street. This historic pre-1855 building has an MHC inventory form. It is also part of an area documented on an MHC form A. Both are included below.
The Commission will also receive the application for the fire-damaged building at 3-5 Pleasant Street. This building is a National Register property and as a result, it is automatically significant. The Commission will move right to a public hearing held next month to determine if the building is preferably preserved.
Site Plan Reviews
The Commission has two site plan reviews on the agenda. One is for 400 Mystic Avenue, and the other 280 Mystic Avenue. Details of the projects will be conveyed at the meeting and the Commission will review the projects and provide feedback as requested.
Ongoing Business
The meeting will conclude with an array of updates on existing projects that are moving forward. Be sure to listen in on all the great stuff that’s happening.
As always, we encourage residents to submit comments in advance of the meeting. The Commission receives these items and does read through them. They are entered into the record as well. Looking forward to seeing you there!
A celebration at Medford City Hall in the mid-20th century.
Medford Historical Commission 