historic-preservation

September Meeting Materials

/ Ryan D. Hayward

The September Meeting is looking to be a busy one with a number of determinations on the docket. As always, our meeting is conducted via Zoom. Please feel free to join us by clicking the link on the top of our homepage or on the agenda.

September Meeting AgendaDownload

18 Cherry Street – Determination of Significance
The Historical Commission will review the historical significance for this nineteenth century dwelling house together with the adjacent auto garages. The buildings are slated for total demolition to allow for townhouses. The Commission has a Form B prepared for the building which can be viewed by clicking the link below.

18 Cherry Street MHC Form BDownload

106 Alexander Street – Receive Demolition Application and Determine Significance
The Commission will receive an application for this early twentieth century dwelling house. We already have a Form B for this building so we will move right into determining significance. The form is linked below.

106 Alexander Ave MHC Form BDownload

110 Brooks Street – Receive Demolition Application and Determine Significance
The Commission will review the gut-rehab project at 110 Brooks Street. Substantial changes are planned and the board will start with determining if the building is significant. The structure has some nice detail consistent with its period of construction. The building also has a known builder.

110 Brooks Street MHC Form BDownload

Salem Street Burying Ground Flag Pole
The Commission has received a request to support the construction of a new flagpole at SSBG for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. We have requested the City hire an archaeologist to review any excavation that is made given the age of the grounds. The Commission supports efforts to celebrate our history and welcomes this new monument to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire citizen soldiers that gave their life for the creation of our country and preservation of our liberties.

Fall Programs
We will have a few quick updates for fall programs and collaborations that are in the works. We will also discuss continuing education events that bolster our preservation knowledge. We try to attend these whenever it will benefit the City of Medford.

Normal Updates
From here, we have our regular monthly updates of ongoing work. We were able to secure MHC inventory forms for two properties under threat of demolition. Four new applications for building permits are being reviewed and there’s a possibility we will have forms prepared preemptively.

Minutes
As always, we will wrap the meeting up with minutes from the last three meetings.

If there’s anything preservation related that’s on your mind and you would like to share with us, please do not hesitate to reach out via email. We are always happy to hear from residents.

May Meeting Materials

/ medfordhistoricalcommission

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:

27 Almont – MHC Form BDownload
27 Almont – Determination of SignificanceDownload

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:

  1. Has been listed in or is the subject of a pending application for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; or
  2. Has been listed in the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places; or
  3. 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.

18 Wedgemere Road – MHC Form BDownload
9 Trout Ave – MHC Form BDownload

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.

George, Pearl, and Stearns Street – MHC Form ADownload
38 Pearl Street – MHC Form BDownload

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.