1 00:02:27,21 --> 00:02:27,38 Well. 2 00:02:35,09 --> 00:02:40,64 I think we'll go ahead and get started go ahead and get started. We may have 3 00:02:40,65 --> 00:02:47,54 a few people coming in but I'd like to first welcome all of you to this meeting of 4 00:02:47,55 --> 00:02:52,05 the historic district commission My name is Lauren Meyer I'm co-chair of the 5 00:02:52,06 --> 00:02:58,22 historic district commission with Lisa Lisa Harrington and I'd like to welcome you 6 00:02:58,23 --> 00:03:03,58 tonight to the present to this presentation by the towns of preservation consultant 7 00:03:03,86 --> 00:03:10,83 Lisa mouse off and before I begin before she begins I would like to extend thanks 8 00:03:10,84 --> 00:03:16,78 to the Community Preservation Committee to the Board of Selectmen Michael trainer 9 00:03:17,55 --> 00:03:23,36 and to town meeting members who all supported this project and it worked to help 10 00:03:23,68 --> 00:03:30,55 the historic district commission complete this important project also like to to 11 00:03:30,71 --> 00:03:36,68 welcome our colleagues from the planning board and any other boards and committees 12 00:03:36,69 --> 00:03:42,34 who are here tonight tonight's presentation will focus solely on the historic 13 00:03:42,35 --> 00:03:47,70 resources survey which has been undertaken by Lisa mouse off who was selected 14 00:03:47,71 --> 00:03:48,13 through 15 00:03:48,14 --> 00:03:55,51 a competitive process. That included several qualified 16 00:03:55,52 --> 00:03:59,46 consultants who competed for the project Lisa has done 17 00:03:59,50 --> 00:04:04,74 a substantial amount of work that's very similar in Lexington and we're very 18 00:04:04,75 --> 00:04:10,05 pleased to have her here in Belmont and following Lisa's presentation should be 19 00:04:10,09 --> 00:04:16,02 available to answer questions so with that I just say thank you Joy if you for 20 00:04:16,03 --> 00:04:22,28 coming and turning over to waste thank you line. I'd like to begin the 21 00:04:22,29 --> 00:04:28,84 presentation by talking low bit about the goals of the survey project the 22 00:04:28,85 --> 00:04:33,67 inventorying of historic resources is the foundation for all subsequent 23 00:04:33,68 --> 00:04:37,27 preservation planning it provides a summary of what defines 24 00:04:37,28 --> 00:04:42,00 a community what makes it different and should be the basis of all future decision 25 00:04:42,01 --> 00:04:46,93 making and preservation efforts inventory work might be followed up with other 26 00:04:46,94 --> 00:04:51,91 preservation strategies including listing properties on the National Register of 27 00:04:51,92 --> 00:04:57,18 Historic Places the designation of local historic districts and or neighborhood 28 00:04:57,19 --> 00:05:02,29 conservation districts in other cases the inventory work might provide useful 29 00:05:02,30 --> 00:05:06,94 information that could be incorporated into stabilisation or rehabilitation or 30 00:05:06,95 --> 00:05:12,02 restoration efforts or in securing preservation restrictions to protect you know 31 00:05:12,06 --> 00:05:17,13 where the properties good inventory work is also critical to inform demolition 32 00:05:17,14 --> 00:05:22,23 delay ordinances and other preservation measures Let's begin by taking 33 00:05:22,24 --> 00:05:28,48 a quick look at the state of preservation planning in the town of Belmont. Prior to 34 00:05:28,49 --> 00:05:33,12 the current inventory project the last concerted survey effort took place over 35 00:05:33,13 --> 00:05:37,50 thirty years ago in one thousand nine hundred two the town contracted with the 36 00:05:37,51 --> 00:05:41,91 preservation Studies Program at Boston University to prepare 37 00:05:41,92 --> 00:05:48,08 a comprehensive architectural and historic survey for the town that effort produced 38 00:05:48,09 --> 00:05:52,72 approximately one hundred survey forms that describe the history and development of 39 00:05:52,73 --> 00:05:58,14 various neighborhoods and areas as well as about three hundred forms that covered 40 00:05:58,15 --> 00:06:01,26 individual buildings at the end of the project 41 00:06:01,30 --> 00:06:07,35 a book was also published thirty years later that survey efforts still provide some 42 00:06:07,36 --> 00:06:12,39 useful information but it's badly in need of update survey forms that were used by 43 00:06:12,40 --> 00:06:16,87 the Massachusetts Historical Commission have changed much more detail is now 44 00:06:16,88 --> 00:06:21,65 required the earlier forms provide little information concerning the original 45 00:06:21,69 --> 00:06:27,60 owners and contacts and many of the properties have seen alteration in addition 46 00:06:27,96 --> 00:06:32,82 many buildings that we consider significant today were not included in that earlier 47 00:06:32,83 --> 00:06:39,71 effort in terms of preservation planning Belmont has also seen limited efforts 48 00:06:39,73 --> 00:06:44,32 in putting resources on the National Register today there are few listings for 49 00:06:44,32 --> 00:06:45,50 a community with such 50 00:06:45,51 --> 00:06:51,10 a rich architectural heritage properties that are currently on the register include 51 00:06:51,12 --> 00:06:56,42 the former railroad station now the Lions Club and the railroad bridge at Concord 52 00:06:56,44 --> 00:07:03,16 ave. Also on the register is see at Abraham Hill House 53 00:07:03,36 --> 00:07:07,24 at three eighty eight pleasant street that was nominated as part of 54 00:07:07,25 --> 00:07:13,34 a first period multiple property multi town nomination many years ago the McLean 55 00:07:13,35 --> 00:07:18,77 Hospital District was nominated in two thousand and two it encompasses over seventy 56 00:07:18,78 --> 00:07:25,18 resources including building structures foundations and landscapes the Metropolitan 57 00:07:25,19 --> 00:07:29,55 State Hospital District was nominated to the National Register in one nine hundred 58 00:07:29,56 --> 00:07:35,19 ninety three that includes properties in wall fam Lexington and Belmont the area 59 00:07:35,20 --> 00:07:39,54 that falls within the town of Belmont consists of open space which is part of the 60 00:07:39,55 --> 00:07:46,35 expanded Beaverbrook preservation the house at ninety Somerset Street also 61 00:07:46,36 --> 00:07:52,31 known as Red Top is notable as the town's only national historic landmark that's 62 00:07:52,32 --> 00:07:56,89 a designation that's reserved for nationally significant properties and it's really 63 00:07:56,90 --> 00:08:01,57 a step above the national register there are only two hundred fifty six of these 64 00:08:01,58 --> 00:08:06,77 landmarks in the state it was designated in one nine hundred seventy one for its 65 00:08:06,78 --> 00:08:12,31 association with writer William Deane Howells the shingle style house was designed 66 00:08:12,32 --> 00:08:14,76 by his brother in law William Mead who is 67 00:08:14,77 --> 00:08:21,70 a partner in the noted architectural firm of McCann meat and white shown here 68 00:08:21,71 --> 00:08:24,74 is a pleasant street historic district which is both 69 00:08:24,75 --> 00:08:26,73 a national register district and 70 00:08:26,74 --> 00:08:33,26 a local historic district in addition there is also the common street local 71 00:08:33,27 --> 00:08:39,34 historic district which oversees these three properties and most recently is the 72 00:08:39,35 --> 00:08:43,55 Richardson farm local historic district which was established in two thousand and 73 00:08:43,56 --> 00:08:45,19 thirteen it includes 74 00:08:45,20 --> 00:08:49,98 a historic buildings and landscape features of two properties located at three 75 00:08:49,99 --> 00:08:56,21 o six and three six three thirty six Washington Street. The Joseph Bright House at 76 00:08:56,22 --> 00:08:56,43 three 77 00:08:56,44 --> 00:09:01,96 o six Washington was built in seventeen eighty one the Thomas Richardson Homestead 78 00:09:01,97 --> 00:09:06,66 at three thirty six Washington was built in eighteen zero seven and later updated 79 00:09:06,67 --> 00:09:11,73 with Queen and features the property includes more than ten acres of actively 80 00:09:11,74 --> 00:09:17,29 farmed land the Richardson farm has been in cultivation since sixteen thirty four 81 00:09:17,81 --> 00:09:22,33 the land is protected by an agricultural preservation restriction held by the 82 00:09:22,34 --> 00:09:29,16 Belmont Land Trust not all preservation and Belmont is initiated by the 83 00:09:29,17 --> 00:09:33,58 town there are also numerous examples of ongoing private investment and 84 00:09:33,59 --> 00:09:39,99 rehabilitation. There are also several properties in town that have 85 00:09:40,00 --> 00:09:44,82 preservation restrictions or agreements by which the historic district commission 86 00:09:44,83 --> 00:09:50,49 reviews proposed changes these include the former Belmont center fire station the 87 00:09:50,50 --> 00:09:57,36 former Waverly square fire station and the McLean district. I'd 88 00:09:57,37 --> 00:09:58,99 like to turn now to talk 89 00:09:59,00 --> 00:10:03,41 a little bit about the survey work that I've been working on and just completed and 90 00:10:03,42 --> 00:10:07,95 give you an update on the progress that has been made the overall goal of the 91 00:10:07,96 --> 00:10:12,88 survey was to complete or update inventory forms for historic properties throughout 92 00:10:12,89 --> 00:10:19,00 the entire town. To cover the full range of resources everything from for Nakheel 93 00:10:19,01 --> 00:10:24,84 are to high style as part of this goal I drove all over Belmont looked at historic 94 00:10:24,85 --> 00:10:29,92 maps scoured over assessor's Records building permit data to compile 95 00:10:29,93 --> 00:10:34,44 a list which was then reviewed and ranked by Priority A B. Or C. 96 00:10:34,70 --> 00:10:36,45 By a subcommittee of the H.T. 97 00:10:36,46 --> 00:10:42,22 See we had more than six hundred properties that were considered worthy of survey 98 00:10:42,52 --> 00:10:47,34 only two hundred could be inventoried as part of the current project we selected 99 00:10:47,35 --> 00:10:51,53 those who were the best examples of their style or their form that had the most 100 00:10:51,54 --> 00:10:55,88 integrity or were very unique examples of 101 00:10:55,89 --> 00:11:00,99 a certain style or form the remaining four hundred buildings which are on the list 102 00:11:01,00 --> 00:11:05,96 which will be seen in the final certain final report where rank B. Or C. 103 00:11:06,10 --> 00:11:08,15 And those all await future survey 104 00:11:09,12 --> 00:11:13,63 a list of all the properties again will be available in my final report and I'll be 105 00:11:13,64 --> 00:11:14,44 talking about that in 106 00:11:14,45 --> 00:11:21,09 a little. In determining what's important in Belmont's history and what should be 107 00:11:21,10 --> 00:11:24,56 inventoried we look at various factors typically 108 00:11:24,57 --> 00:11:28,56 a building has to be older than fifty years it also should have 109 00:11:28,57 --> 00:11:32,98 a high degree of integrity which is to regional owners still recognize that 110 00:11:33,60 --> 00:11:38,28 resources also need to have significance which can call fall into various 111 00:11:38,29 --> 00:11:44,06 categories in Belmont we have several important historic themes there see evolution 112 00:11:44,07 --> 00:11:48,35 of the farming community the history of market gardening the growth of the 113 00:11:48,36 --> 00:11:52,52 community in the nineteenth century due to the arrival of the railroad in the 114 00:11:52,53 --> 00:11:57,43 twentieth century due to the access to Boston afforded by the street car there's 115 00:11:57,44 --> 00:12:03,83 important history to be told of various community centers and developments some 116 00:12:03,84 --> 00:12:08,53 were laid out on former farmland and by prominent local residents for the common 117 00:12:08,54 --> 00:12:13,21 good then there were also more speculative developments all of these are an 118 00:12:13,22 --> 00:12:17,82 important part of the story of why Belmont looks the way it is today some 119 00:12:17,83 --> 00:12:22,74 properties are significant because of their associations with specific individuals 120 00:12:23,06 --> 00:12:24,82 in Belmont we obviously have 121 00:12:24,83 --> 00:12:30,07 a huge number of locally prominent families we have the Underwoods of Wellington's 122 00:12:30,07 --> 00:12:36,52 . Different farming families but then we have the hundreds of prominent residents 123 00:12:36,53 --> 00:12:41,00 who have lived here over the years commuting to work in Boston and Cambridge 124 00:12:41,59 --> 00:12:47,79 scientists professors at MIT and Harvard just you know so many notable figures. 125 00:12:49,04 --> 00:12:53,87 The last reason that we inventory properties is for their architectural style or 126 00:12:53,88 --> 00:12:59,10 their design and we work hard to include both representative examples and really 127 00:12:59,11 --> 00:13:06,10 outstanding examples. Before I started the survey the H.T. C. 128 00:13:06,11 --> 00:13:11,25 Had laid out several goals one priority was to inventory Prien one thousand nine 129 00:13:11,26 --> 00:13:15,01 hundred buildings that had not been covered in the previous one nine hundred eighty 130 00:13:15,02 --> 00:13:19,73 two survey here you have five examples of buildings that had not previously been 131 00:13:19,74 --> 00:13:25,57 recorded the mansard roof cottage at fifty five Alexander was built by the Lock 132 00:13:25,58 --> 00:13:29,16 family of farmers three of seven Pleasant Street is 133 00:13:29,17 --> 00:13:34,83 a Greek Revival toiling built by the frost family ninety five Clinton in the center 134 00:13:34,84 --> 00:13:35,03 is 135 00:13:35,04 --> 00:13:40,29 a federal style house that was later updated in the early twentieth century eighty 136 00:13:40,30 --> 00:13:45,96 four Claflin was the wind farm house and it was moved to its present location in 137 00:13:45,97 --> 00:13:50,53 the late nineteenth century and in the bottom right hand corner three eighty nine 138 00:13:50,54 --> 00:13:54,62 Common Street was once located on the historic Christian pace in that state. 139 00:13:57,89 --> 00:14:01,76 Another goal of the new survey was to record some of the commercial buildings that 140 00:14:01,77 --> 00:14:06,61 had been messed for example new forms were prepared for the Kuoni over five whole 141 00:14:06,99 --> 00:14:11,44 Locatelli blocks on Leonard Street they were constructed in one nine hundred forty 142 00:14:11,82 --> 00:14:15,82 the Strand Theater entre polo road which was built in one nine hundred twenty 143 00:14:16,58 --> 00:14:22,47 Perrault building. Forty six to forty eight Leonard Street which dates to eight 144 00:14:22,48 --> 00:14:27,62 hundred ninety six and it's the oldest commercial building on Leonard Street. Upper 145 00:14:27,63 --> 00:14:32,33 right hand corner you have the daily building on Church Street in Waverly Square 146 00:14:32,34 --> 00:14:36,31 which dates to one thousand nine hundred four and the bottom right hand corner the 147 00:14:36,32 --> 00:14:39,85 former Harvard trust bank building in Christian Square was built in one nine 148 00:14:39,86 --> 00:14:46,65 hundred thirty five. I also surveyed all religious buildings that were fifty 149 00:14:46,66 --> 00:14:51,87 years or older that had not previously been inventoried at the same time the 150 00:14:51,88 --> 00:14:56,93 inventory forms that had previously been prepared for other church properties were 151 00:14:56,94 --> 00:15:02,02 revised to ensure that all the church related structures associated with the given 152 00:15:02,04 --> 00:15:08,62 property were adequately covered surveyed. Another 153 00:15:08,63 --> 00:15:13,53 emphasis of the inventory was to Per prepare forms for structures and some of the 154 00:15:13,54 --> 00:15:18,72 bell months distinctive neighborhoods these those areas that combine architecture 155 00:15:18,73 --> 00:15:23,79 and character and really contribute to Belmont's uniqueness shown here are just two 156 00:15:23,80 --> 00:15:28,91 examples clonal terrace located off of four Church Street near the Wellington 157 00:15:28,92 --> 00:15:35,76 school and Belmont Park. Late nineteenth century houses on 158 00:15:35,77 --> 00:15:41,37 school Goeden Myrtle and oak streets there are many other such special areas in the 159 00:15:41,38 --> 00:15:44,57 town and again those will be included in my final report. 160 00:15:49,40 --> 00:15:54,01 While he was out doing field work I was also on the lookout for surviving historic 161 00:15:54,02 --> 00:15:57,70 accessory buildings that were built before one thousand nine hundred twenty one you 162 00:15:57,71 --> 00:16:02,45 have three examples here. I also recorded 163 00:16:02,46 --> 00:16:07,41 a number of distinctive early twentieth century residence as the building in the 164 00:16:07,45 --> 00:16:12,36 upper left hand corner fifty eight to sixty Oakley road is located across from the 165 00:16:12,37 --> 00:16:18,22 Benton library and it's notable for its rubble stucco instict wood exterior it was 166 00:16:18,23 --> 00:16:22,23 constructed for Everett Benton's daughter Dorothy and her husband as 167 00:16:22,24 --> 00:16:28,21 a two family the unusual two family building at two ten to twelve pace from road 168 00:16:28,22 --> 00:16:34,19 was built in one nine hundred ten. The Colonial Revival structure at the right at 169 00:16:34,20 --> 00:16:39,59 two fifty six slate street dates to one nine hundred twenty two it was designed by 170 00:16:39,60 --> 00:16:43,78 a local architect Victor Wigglesworth although it appears to have 171 00:16:43,79 --> 00:16:50,38 a flush board facade the house was actually constructed of reinforced concrete and 172 00:16:50,39 --> 00:16:54,47 at the bottom of the house at forty three village Hill Road is one of several 173 00:16:54,51 --> 00:16:58,93 English revival Welling's in Belmont designed by the well known architect royal 174 00:16:58,94 --> 00:17:05,79 Barry wills. As I just mentioned Wigglesworth the survey 175 00:17:05,80 --> 00:17:11,83 did highlight the works of several local architects Victor Wigglesworth was born in 176 00:17:11,87 --> 00:17:16,06 one thousand nine hundred five does not appear to have had any formal architectural 177 00:17:16,07 --> 00:17:20,06 training he designed a diverse range of buildings in Belmont over 178 00:17:20,07 --> 00:17:23,95 a pretty short amount of time beginning in one thousand and thirteen when he 179 00:17:23,96 --> 00:17:25,61 designed the prairie style house 180 00:17:25,62 --> 00:17:30,49 a twenty four seater he designed several houses in Belmont of three unforced 181 00:17:30,50 --> 00:17:35,97 concrete construction of which only two fifty six lay it survives he designed 182 00:17:36,01 --> 00:17:40,03 colonial terrace and actually he and his wife lived at number four for 183 00:17:40,04 --> 00:17:44,94 a number of years. He also designed twenty highland road in one nine hundred 184 00:17:44,95 --> 00:17:50,84 fifteen interesting way enough by nineteen seventeen he was working as chief Strath 185 00:17:50,98 --> 00:17:55,99 chief draftsman for the craft Laboratory in Cambridge he appeared to have taken 186 00:17:56,00 --> 00:18:00,80 more of an engineering bent later in life though he did live in Belmont into the 187 00:18:00,81 --> 00:18:01,92 one nine hundred fifty S. 188 00:18:04,51 --> 00:18:09,35 The survey also includes various works by each taxed or Underwood another local 189 00:18:09,36 --> 00:18:14,57 architect of note he was the son of Dr George Underwood the grandson of William 190 00:18:14,58 --> 00:18:19,10 Underwood founder of the food concern and working with his uncle landscape 191 00:18:19,11 --> 00:18:24,46 architect Loring under word he designed the bath house for the original bath house 192 00:18:24,47 --> 00:18:26,02 for the underwood pool and 193 00:18:26,03 --> 00:18:31,55 a number of homes in the Walnut Hill area including twenty six cedar road and the 194 00:18:31,56 --> 00:18:37,76 choir killer area one Clover Road which you see there he also designed commercial 195 00:18:37,77 --> 00:18:42,78 buildings for sixty four to four seventy trip Palo road as well as the S.S. 196 00:18:42,79 --> 00:18:48,45 Pierce building in Christian square He also designed the Belmont police station the 197 00:18:48,46 --> 00:18:53,55 house in the lower right hand corner with his was his own home which he designed at 198 00:18:53,56 --> 00:18:59,19 fourteen Glendale road and he lived here until his death in one nine hundred fifty 199 00:18:59,19 --> 00:19:04,88 . One of the other priorities that Ph D. C. 200 00:19:05,04 --> 00:19:09,65 Forced for the inventory was to include the town's important mid twentieth century 201 00:19:09,66 --> 00:19:14,64 resources these include several homes designed by architect Eleanor Raymond 202 00:19:14,85 --> 00:19:16,25 including this house one 203 00:19:16,26 --> 00:19:21,56 o five tuna per road illustration of the interior on the right is in the collection 204 00:19:21,57 --> 00:19:28,21 of historic New England other highly significant buildings in town include this 205 00:19:28,22 --> 00:19:33,72 international style house at sixty nine Pinehurst road designed by Walter Gropius 206 00:19:33,73 --> 00:19:38,17 and Benjamin Thompson of the architects collaborative it was designed in one nine 207 00:19:38,18 --> 00:19:40,35 hundred forty eight Gropius was 208 00:19:40,36 --> 00:19:45,07 a founder of the German school of design called the Bauhaus and later taught at 209 00:19:45,08 --> 00:19:49,94 Harvard he invention Thompson designed this house for Dr Clarence Howlett who is an 210 00:19:49,95 --> 00:19:56,39 industrial engineer the Snake Hill development was designed by 211 00:19:56,40 --> 00:20:00,60 architect curled Koch and was described in one nine hundred forty six by 212 00:20:00,60 --> 00:20:05,62 progressive architecture as one of the best known and most significant groups of 213 00:20:05,62 --> 00:20:11,45 contemporary houses in the world Koch studied under Walter Gropius develop this 214 00:20:11,47 --> 00:20:13,99 community housing project initially as 215 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:18,80 a way to design an inexpensive home for him self and his family he lived at seventy 216 00:20:18,81 --> 00:20:23,52 seven state killed road the first five houses in the development were built in one 217 00:20:23,54 --> 00:20:27,52 nine hundred forty followed by an additional three in one nine hundred forty one 218 00:20:27,79 --> 00:20:32,51 and one last one for Koch sister in one nine hundred forty six that would be 219 00:20:32,52 --> 00:20:36,72 fifteen Snake Hill in the lower right hand corner although there have been many 220 00:20:36,73 --> 00:20:43,37 alterations and additions the development is still of note today. Another 221 00:20:43,96 --> 00:20:49,34 mid century modern house this house at three fifteen common street was constructed 222 00:20:49,36 --> 00:20:51,23 according to designs for 223 00:20:51,25 --> 00:20:56,84 a house by Earl Flansburgh that appeared in Better Homes and Gardens the magazine 224 00:20:56,86 --> 00:21:01,16 in one thousand nine hundred sixty six apparently the first stone or secured the 225 00:21:01,54 --> 00:21:08,19 plans from the magazine. In addition to developing new 226 00:21:08,20 --> 00:21:13,89 inventory forms to cover under represented resources in town I was also charged 227 00:21:13,90 --> 00:21:15,55 with revising and updating 228 00:21:15,87 --> 00:21:20,70 a number of the previous one nine hundred eighty two inventory forms in some cases 229 00:21:20,71 --> 00:21:25,58 corrections from eight information about of original owners and architects were 230 00:21:25,59 --> 00:21:30,18 added and information was added relative to the alteration said it occurred over 231 00:21:30,19 --> 00:21:34,36 the last thirty years the Building Department files provided of wealth of 232 00:21:34,37 --> 00:21:40,81 information including original permits drawings alteration records 233 00:21:43,17 --> 00:21:46,86 one of the things that I found the most interesting in the survey was the volume of 234 00:21:46,87 --> 00:21:51,89 new information that's now more readily available to us thanks to the Internet and 235 00:21:51,90 --> 00:21:56,61 the digitization of different types of source material for example while 236 00:21:56,65 --> 00:22:01,30 researching the house of forty one cedar road I stumbled on an article on this 237 00:22:01,31 --> 00:22:08,27 house that appeared in architectural record in one nine hundred twenty and even for 238 00:22:08,28 --> 00:22:11,91 buildings had been surveyed in one thousand nine hundred two New information was 239 00:22:11,92 --> 00:22:16,91 found in the case that this house at seventy two Cushing Avenue I was able to find 240 00:22:16,92 --> 00:22:21,19 an illustration of the house shortly after it was constructed contained in an 241 00:22:21,20 --> 00:22:25,49 advertisement for building materials that appeared in The Journal American 242 00:22:25,50 --> 00:22:31,67 architect the Belmont Historical Society was also 243 00:22:31,68 --> 00:22:36,97 a source of historic photos One example is for this house at twenty one Elm Street 244 00:22:36,97 --> 00:22:43,55 . In total I've produced about two hundred M. 245 00:22:43,56 --> 00:22:48,62 From Tori forms about one hundred thirty cover new properties and seventy that 246 00:22:48,63 --> 00:22:53,99 revised preexisting forms that were incomplete insufficient or contained errors 247 00:22:54,44 --> 00:22:58,42 this is significant progress that there are still many buildings in town that 248 00:22:58,43 --> 00:23:03,52 should be surveyed and forms that still need to be updated to summarize my findings 249 00:23:03,52 --> 00:23:05,59 . Number one there are 250 00:23:05,60 --> 00:23:09,20 a number of areas and neighborhoods in the town that exhibit 251 00:23:09,25 --> 00:23:14,18 a combination of architecture and distinctive character that may make them worthy 252 00:23:14,19 --> 00:23:18,66 in the future for the consideration of the creation of local historic districts or 253 00:23:18,67 --> 00:23:24,17 neighborhood conservation districts. I believe the town should work to increase the 254 00:23:24,18 --> 00:23:29,18 number of properties listed on the national register while the national register 255 00:23:29,19 --> 00:23:35,25 alone does not prevent demolition it can elevate the consciousness. Of 256 00:23:35,26 --> 00:23:40,72 a property among local residents it can trigger important tools for preservation 257 00:23:41,00 --> 00:23:47,14 including eligibility for federal and historic tax credits preservation easements 258 00:23:47,36 --> 00:23:52,99 as well as reviews of federal undertakings the survey should also be used to inform 259 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:58,97 the list of properties that are protected by the local demolition delay by law. And 260 00:23:58,98 --> 00:24:04,12 for all these reasons work on the inventory really needs to be ongoing it's not an 261 00:24:04,13 --> 00:24:08,50 effort that concludes with the survey it's an organic process and there are still 262 00:24:08,51 --> 00:24:15,38 many forms to be updated in new resources that should be studied. One area 263 00:24:15,39 --> 00:24:20,46 which kind of fell outside the survey which is also worth mentioning is what do we 264 00:24:20,47 --> 00:24:24,89 do and how do we handle the properties associated with the many significant 265 00:24:24,93 --> 00:24:29,28 individuals who have lived in Belmont you know as I mentioned before the proximity 266 00:24:29,29 --> 00:24:30,72 to the Boston area this was 267 00:24:30,73 --> 00:24:36,02 a wonderful commuting community for number of significant individuals over the year 268 00:24:36,33 --> 00:24:40,49 this is just one example the list is exhaustive includes 269 00:24:40,50 --> 00:24:47,44 a. Prize winners politicians business people artists musicians writers scientists 270 00:24:47,45 --> 00:24:51,83 economists scholars sports figures you name it they've all lived here at some point 271 00:24:52,79 --> 00:24:59,10 while it's nearly impossible to inventory all of those residences I think priority 272 00:24:59,11 --> 00:25:04,48 should be made to long term residences and to start trying to establish that link 273 00:25:04,49 --> 00:25:10,29 between buildings and people this building was not surveyed Paul Samuelson who won 274 00:25:10,30 --> 00:25:14,37 the Nobel Prize in Economics in one nine hundred seventy lived at seventy five 275 00:25:14,38 --> 00:25:15,01 Claremont for 276 00:25:15,02 --> 00:25:21,25 a long time one property we did two in the survey was the home of Joan Baez when 277 00:25:21,26 --> 00:25:27,69 she was seventeen or eighteen just to give you an example so final 278 00:25:27,70 --> 00:25:32,26 products this Power Point presentation will be available on the H.T. 279 00:25:32,27 --> 00:25:38,41 See website sometime soon tomorrow or early next week in the next few weeks I'll be 280 00:25:38,42 --> 00:25:43,33 wrapping up the Web component of the project that's going to include links to the 281 00:25:43,34 --> 00:25:48,30 two hundred survey forms that have been prepared it's also going to and include 282 00:25:48,53 --> 00:25:54,18 overviews of some of the elements notable neighborhoods and areas. They'll be 283 00:25:54,19 --> 00:25:58,50 a section on architectural styles and Belmont which will include and use 284 00:25:58,51 --> 00:26:04,60 photographs of many Belmont building to illustrate how the styles were used in our 285 00:26:04,61 --> 00:26:07,59 town. This is hopefully 286 00:26:07,60 --> 00:26:13,05 a resource that will enlighten residents about the town's many historic resources 287 00:26:13,06 --> 00:26:17,48 and it can be expanded and it can be updated as new information becomes available 288 00:26:18,00 --> 00:26:22,61 copies of the inventory forms will also be forwarded to the Massachusetts 289 00:26:22,62 --> 00:26:26,64 Historical Commission they make those available for all the communities in the 290 00:26:26,65 --> 00:26:33,21 state on their website the Makris website. And you can look today at that 291 00:26:33,22 --> 00:26:37,83 website and see the property the forms that were previously prepared for Belmont in 292 00:26:37,84 --> 00:26:44,03 one thousand nine hundred two. Thank you very much 293 00:26:44,86 --> 00:26:51,58 thank you lisa i like I like to open the floor for questions and if any but one in 294 00:26:51,59 --> 00:26:53,76 the audience wants you to ask 295 00:26:53,77 --> 00:26:57,31 a question if you please go to the mike and I give you 296 00:26:57,32 --> 00:27:03,95 a name. And any questions and video on the 297 00:27:04,33 --> 00:27:11,00 commission or any questions. No question. 298 00:27:12,09 --> 00:27:16,10 But. Yes we have 299 00:27:16,11 --> 00:27:20,04 a question there we go through. You know do 300 00:27:20,05 --> 00:27:26,28 a identify yourself we all know your enemy you know your. Right. 301 00:27:30,21 --> 00:27:36,88 I mean how do you where. Do. You view. 302 00:27:39,88 --> 00:27:44,76 What you know where. The. Houses you think. 303 00:27:46,76 --> 00:27:50,86 Is the mayor and he said you know. We. 304 00:27:53,61 --> 00:27:59,43 Are just here and there. Was you know for me. 305 00:28:01,44 --> 00:28:08,32 You know being here. Is you know not heard to say Oh you mean really you. 306 00:28:13,01 --> 00:28:17,67 Know you're in for something yeah that's a great for you that that's 307 00:28:17,68 --> 00:28:23,21 a great suggestion and particularly if you could provide sort of the base map from 308 00:28:23,22 --> 00:28:28,31 which Lisa could work that would be super helpful because you know her work is 309 00:28:28,32 --> 00:28:34,19 based on historical research so it's not just looking at how things look it's more 310 00:28:34,35 --> 00:28:39,12 we know this this specific boundaries of this development we're all built at the 311 00:28:39,13 --> 00:28:42,84 same time and that's why they have distinctive character so that that's 312 00:28:42,85 --> 00:28:46,65 a great suggestion that. This is just all. 313 00:28:52,82 --> 00:28:59,44 These character areas you're referring to as. You well. You know to. 314 00:29:01,55 --> 00:29:07,46 Me here to. Me is structured. 315 00:29:09,91 --> 00:29:16,81 That man. Is ready to come 316 00:29:16,82 --> 00:29:23,73 for. The moon to serve Mary in the fourth. Go through 317 00:29:23,74 --> 00:29:30,16 the roof you know. Which is wonderful to read wonderful resource 318 00:29:31,09 --> 00:29:37,64 but I did not revisit every one but is there and you know our heart is in there 319 00:29:38,04 --> 00:29:40,09 so that I hope to hear. 320 00:29:45,12 --> 00:29:51,75 Any other questions. You want to go to the mike. 321 00:29:53,34 --> 00:29:59,99 Yes if you can place. Just sort of 322 00:30:00,00 --> 00:30:06,56 a vague question you mentioned properties that belong to folks of some historic 323 00:30:06,57 --> 00:30:11,67 significance such as Paul Samuelson are you going to be able to compile all of 324 00:30:11,68 --> 00:30:16,74 those and actually what kind of help are you going to need in doing that for 325 00:30:16,75 --> 00:30:21,71 example my brother used to deliver papers to Henry Kissinger the Boston Herald 326 00:30:21,72 --> 00:30:26,34 every morning when he lived on slave street but then he moved to Louisa road and 327 00:30:26,35 --> 00:30:30,80 when rush hour before he moved up onto the hill and at the corner of golden and 328 00:30:30,81 --> 00:30:32,26 long avenue so there's 329 00:30:32,27 --> 00:30:38,17 a lot of stories that go to all of these people that probably people all over town 330 00:30:38,18 --> 00:30:43,91 have little pieces how do you pull them together you know it me I championed them 331 00:30:43,92 --> 00:30:50,50 Lisa I think that is the next step and I think you'll be rendered full to engage 332 00:30:50,51 --> 00:30:54,64 the community and how compile 333 00:30:54,79 --> 00:31:00,59 a map of all of the really interesting people who've lived in this town I know 334 00:31:00,82 --> 00:31:07,72 Lydia Ogleby is member emeritus of Arc commission and every meeting she 335 00:31:07,73 --> 00:31:13,62 reminds us of you know someone important you live somewhere in Belmont and we 336 00:31:13,63 --> 00:31:17,46 always have said and I think we've said it several meanings that is the next thing 337 00:31:17,47 --> 00:31:24,07 we really need to do so I think it would be really fun to you know 338 00:31:24,08 --> 00:31:29,60 invite the community in with a map in here story saying as 339 00:31:29,61 --> 00:31:32,13 a way of gathering that information and we don't it's 340 00:31:32,14 --> 00:31:38,94 a great idea for them who's who. Was really have the we have the we have the 341 00:31:39,21 --> 00:31:46,05 with this woman in this one but. That was produced in the early seventy's and it 342 00:31:46,06 --> 00:31:47,94 has biographies of 343 00:31:47,98 --> 00:31:53,58 a good number that was next to my computer Yeah and at the bottom of each entry it 344 00:31:53,59 --> 00:31:58,43 does say where they work and I found some are terribly accurate but it's wonderful 345 00:31:58,44 --> 00:32:03,03 start and then coupled with getting that kind of oral history and remember things 346 00:32:03,04 --> 00:32:08,14 would be terrific in the book might you know spark will discussion and so in 347 00:32:08,15 --> 00:32:10,71 addition that would just be tremendous Yeah that's 348 00:32:10,72 --> 00:32:17,47 a great idea. Big fun maybe to the violent Historical Society might be very 349 00:32:17,48 --> 00:32:21,92 interested in partnering with the historic district and I think I'm doing that 350 00:32:21,93 --> 00:32:26,84 great collaboration with the historical society especially with their location in 351 00:32:26,85 --> 00:32:30,53 the library so many members of the community filtered through there and so even if 352 00:32:30,54 --> 00:32:34,08 it's not an evening of that it might be the kind of thing that people could just 353 00:32:34,09 --> 00:32:35,34 raise on the down and slip it into 354 00:32:35,35 --> 00:32:40,55 a box. When they're at the library in my head more people that way to write we 355 00:32:40,56 --> 00:32:42,22 could make it interact or we could put 356 00:32:42,23 --> 00:32:46,51 a big map on the wall and do something that would be a lot of fun 357 00:32:46,52 --> 00:32:51,40 a website eventually we could have sex where people could just post Yup information 358 00:32:51,41 --> 00:32:56,99 as opposed to what you know you know. And we can write good. 359 00:33:00,66 --> 00:33:00,100 Yes. 360 00:33:13,49 --> 00:33:20,36 Identify yourself. OK. You mentioned that he Ogleby Yes. There 361 00:33:20,37 --> 00:33:25,25 are some such figures like her in town and I had always hoped unfortunately dick 362 00:33:25,26 --> 00:33:29,77 that's is now with longer with us but I'd always hoped that somebody would sit down 363 00:33:29,78 --> 00:33:29,89 with 364 00:33:29,90 --> 00:33:36,01 a tape recorder and just let him talk about Belmont and what they know and what. 365 00:33:37,49 --> 00:33:41,72 You know it's and maybe not even the source of that there are other people like her 366 00:33:41,96 --> 00:33:45,77 that have the information and have the knowledge of how the town developed and 367 00:33:45,78 --> 00:33:50,33 who's lived here and where and what paper route what do they read and what Codd 368 00:33:50,34 --> 00:33:56,87 like their coffee so I would be you know I want to enter I bypass the what the 369 00:33:57,46 --> 00:33:58,47 C.P.C. 370 00:33:58,48 --> 00:34:00,81 Members think but that you know that might be 371 00:34:00,82 --> 00:34:07,52 a very interesting proposal from the and start district commission to the C.P.C. 372 00:34:07,53 --> 00:34:07,65 Is 373 00:34:07,66 --> 00:34:13,65 a way of doing oral histories of you know some of the interesting folks in Belmont 374 00:34:13,70 --> 00:34:17,38 you know before you know while we still can as 375 00:34:17,39 --> 00:34:22,18 a way of capturing you know that collective memory of the current programming 376 00:34:22,29 --> 00:34:28,67 library should should we just directly go to the I seed I'm not familiar personally 377 00:34:28,68 --> 00:34:31,81 with the with the project I see it in the local paper almost on 378 00:34:31,82 --> 00:34:38,61 a weekly basis. I think it's related to Story Corps which you hear on and. So I 379 00:34:38,62 --> 00:34:39,01 think there's 380 00:34:39,02 --> 00:34:45,58 a there's an ongoing real history project in the townsmen. Almost every week they 381 00:34:45,59 --> 00:34:45,70 have 382 00:34:45,71 --> 00:34:52,09 a picture of somebody who's gone and recorded their conversation I'm not I don't 383 00:34:52,10 --> 00:34:54,70 know it's a historical site program it might actually be 384 00:34:54,71 --> 00:34:59,40 a library program so now he's I think we would use sell something you have already 385 00:34:59,57 --> 00:35:06,57 rolling. Great good. Any 386 00:35:06,58 --> 00:35:12,11 other questions and comments. Well it's been a it's been 387 00:35:12,11 --> 00:35:16,57 a real pleasure you know it's interesting it all sort of boils down to 388 00:35:16,59 --> 00:35:23,03 a short and concise presentation but there's enormous It takes an enormous amount 389 00:35:23,07 --> 00:35:29,72 of effort to get to some of these big picture ideas and Lisa's work 390 00:35:29,73 --> 00:35:36,47 very very hard. To try to get to get you know to the forest through 391 00:35:36,48 --> 00:35:40,75 the through the trees so to speak with all these inventory forms and we're very 392 00:35:40,76 --> 00:35:46,99 grateful for her work so we'll be wrapping this up very soon and then having the 393 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:53,22 final report all you know available online the historic district commission will 394 00:35:53,23 --> 00:35:58,45 then switch our efforts to working with the planning board and the demolition to 395 00:35:58,47 --> 00:36:05,04 lay by law and part of I would just say that that one of art our goals will be to 396 00:36:05,34 --> 00:36:11,85 take this updated information that Lisa has produced and meld it with 397 00:36:12,13 --> 00:36:18,81 the information that we had previously related to demolition delay that will we 398 00:36:18,83 --> 00:36:25,81 know result in some remove of properties from the list and likely some you know 399 00:36:25,85 --> 00:36:31,46 updates to the list so that's our next our next challenge and something that we'll 400 00:36:31,46 --> 00:36:38,24 be looking to share with you early in two thousand and seventeen I think any 401 00:36:38,25 --> 00:36:45,02 author of anything they want to say thank you thank you Lisa thank you Lisa. 402 00:36:47,37 --> 00:36:50,51 Yeah great All right thank you everyone. 403 00:37:00,90 --> 00:37:01,09 One.