Question Time.
By Jim Conley • Aug 10th, 2007 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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Question: What’s the big deal about the developer of the St. Aidan’s housing project needing a demolition permit before razing the rectory at the site [see previous post]?
Answer: We have a local by-law (an ordinance, if you will) that says in order to tear down a building you have to let the local preservation commission know so that they can determine whether the building has historical significance. They have ten days to make that determination; and if they say that it is “significant” an 18 month waiting period kicks in.
Question: Is the St. Aidan’s rectory historically significant?
Answer: Well that depends. The rectory is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (as part of the church property where the first Catholic US president was baptized), so you might be inclined to think so. But if you’re a member of the Brookline Selectmen looking to shoehorn a housing project into a dense neighborhood, not so much.
Question: What’s the big deal about preservation? Doesn’t it get in the way of progress?
Answer: The modern Preservation Movement is in response to the urban renewal efforts of the 1960s when buildings (and blocks) were destroyed to make way for shopping centers and “big box development” (remember that term for later reporting on this site). There was really no way to stop developers from razing historic buildings and once people saw what replaced these structures (like Brookline Town hall pictured above) they were horrified.
Question: Doesn’t the need for affordable housing outweigh the need to preserve historic structures?
Answer: Why is it an either/or proposition? If Brookline needs to expand its affordable housing stock there are plenty of other places it can be built without tearing down historically significant buildings. Remember, once the building is gone, it’s gone for good.
Question: Why has the Boston Archdiocese not applied for a demolition permit?
Answer: I don’t know if they have or they haven’t. I can’t get anyone at Town Hall to tell me if they plan to enforce the Town demolition by-law when it comes to the St. Aidan’s rectory.
Question: Why won’t people in town hall answer your questions?
Answer: Because they only like to hear from people who agree with them. And that myopia is the principal reason behind our local government’s woeful incompetence.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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In the instance of St. Aidan’s rectory, I would expect that the response of the Preservation Commission on demolition, if it takes up the matter (either because a demolition permit is filed or on its own), would be POLITICALLY INSPIRED and not OBJECTIVE. Consider the real estate development interests serving on the PC Preservation Commission. Consider upcoming reappointments, keeping in mind what happened to everyone knows whom.
While I have some reservations as to the wisdom of the demolition permit process, as long as the ordinance is on the books, it should be complied with but in an objective manner. In the past, though, there have been political issues involved, especially with the concept of a partial demolition (especially when broadly defined), resulting in delays during which efforts of “insiders” (read, preservationists) are mobilized to, for example, create a historic district and then shoot down the plans of the property owner seeking a partial demolition to more profitably utilize an oversized lot. Meantime, the property owner may sustain uncompensated losses. The demolition permit process can be used as a sword as well as a shield, and even a crusade! May the Saints preserve us!