Historic District Study Committee Meeting Minutes 3/8/21

MINUTES LOCAL HISTORY COMMITTEE         MARCH 8, 2021

• Discussion began concerning material sent to us by the liaison for National Parks in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on National Parks’ districts including tax advantages under Mass General Laws Chapter 62 Section 6J (Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit).  This material is foundational to the survey of householders required for consideration as a Historic District.
• Since Preliminary survey material must be sent to each homeowner in the proposed district by the end of this month, each member will submit a set of survey questions in the next steps of our work.
• While the committee was emailed a doodle in order to discuss a change in meeting time no definitive time was discerned.  Possibilities include a Tuesday or Thursday at a later meeting time than we have tried previously.
• Discussion ensued concerning sales talk of earlier dates for some buildings in the district, and of the demolition of a second building in the proposed district which, despite having undergone radical interior changes, continues to exist.
• Informal discussion of Asher Benjamin’s style (whose local handbook of carpentry is clearly reflected in our proposed district).
•  The group needs to review the differences between National Parks Historic Districts and Local Historic District pros and cons so we know more about the districts and their differences thoroughly.
• Report on South Egremont – through a call to Susan Batchelder we learned they funded initial applications with some town funds, hiring a consultant and making a thorough review of problems with their small school house as well as providing matching funds as part of their application to the State for further funding.