May 2, 2017:- Yesterday evening at Town Meeting I voted in favor of creating a new Local Historic District (LHD) in the Lincoln-Sunset-Fearing neighborhood. The measure passed overwhelmingly, with only 19 votes against.

My wife, Meg, who chairs the Historical Commission, supported the article but made clear to me that our marriage would survive my voting against. Fortunately, I did not need to put that to the test: The proponents — including Professor Max Page, Director of Historic Preservation Initiatives at UMass — made a compelling case for the historic significance of the neighborhood and for the wisdom of imposing a mild brake on changes to its appearance.

Although an LHD requires homeowners to seek clearance for alterations to the exterior, it does not prohibit new structures, solar panels, interior modifications, or unorthodox choices of paint color (!), nor does it impose any mandates regarding upkeep. This new LHD excludes the buildings on North Pleasant Street near Kendrick Place on the edge of the downtown, so should not inhibit development in any way along that stretch.

If you would like to discuss any of the remaining items on the warrant (and there are a lot) please come along to the Jones Library’s Amherst Room where I will be holding an office hour 1:00-2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 9.  Otherwise, please feel free to gt in touch via the contact form below.