Demolition Delay Ordinance
“At the 1991 Town Meeting, the Demolition Delay Bylaw (Article V, Section 21 (PDF)) was created. This gives the Historical Commission (HC) regulatory powers in the administration of the Demolition Delay Ordinance. Using the public hearing process, it can impose a demolition delay in instances where a building over 75 years old is slated for demolition and is deemed historically significant.
If a building is included in the Cultural Resources Inventory, the HC can delay its demolition for one year. If a building is not in the Cultural Resources Inventory, but the HC believes it is significant, the demolition can be delayed for 6 months.
A demolition delay is not intended to punish the owner. It provides an opportunity for the HC to work with the owner to determine if the building can be saved. A recent success story involves the 1812 House on Salem End Road, which Framingham State University opted to sensitively rehabilitate.
The application for a Demolition Delay can be found here Version Options Historical Commission Headline.