Historic Preservation District

peppy · 12-30-2009, 07:47 AM

I found out today that the house my wife and I bought is in one.

Can you fight these things? I don't like the idea if someone telling me what I can do with my property.

legion · 12-30-2009, 07:52 AM

In most states, you're pretty much screwed. How long have you owned the house?

That would have been a major deal-killer for me, because there isn't much you can do about it.

onlycafe · 12-30-2009, 08:01 AM

that means no pink or chartreuse house for you.

tcar · 12-30-2009, 08:07 AM

Your realtor would have been obligated to inform you of that before purchase.

Not much you can do.

Check the regs, there are probably some things that you can do if you want to add on or...

peppy · 12-30-2009, 08:15 AM

Any changes to the house or any structure, and environmental changes have to be submitted to a five member panel for approval.

The panel is appointed by the town counsel and serve for 3 years.

The house was my mothers, I just did not know it was included in the district.

My wife and I really can't afford to keep up with the Jone's on something like this. Just the up keep and maintenance will break us.

jyl · jyl's Garage

This is something you really should have figured out before you bought.

Well, what's done is done.

I've looked at the issue, because my neighborhood periodically thinks about whether to apply for the designation.

The consequences vary and you really have to investigate the restrictions and benefits in your particular case. But in general:
- Some restrictions on exterior modifications to your house, which may or may not be onerous.
- Sometime there are tax benefits.
- Some protection from development, e.g. no apartment buildings or big commercial devs going up in your neighborhood

In general, I wouldn't be fussed about it, unless you were planning to make some fairly significant additions and/or have very individualistic tastes in color, style, etc. When the issue next comes up for a vote in my neighborhood, I will probably vote "for" the designation.

The Gaijin · 12-30-2009, 08:20 AM

It may be simple things like no vinyl siding or no cutting down larger trees.

But if you go looking for a fight, they may give you one!

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

At first glance I couldn't figure out why you WOULDN'T want to be in the historic district. The benefits typically FAR outweigh the drawbacks. For example, as mentioned above, it keeps some idiot from buying the "oops" paint cheap at Home Depot and painting their Italianate chartreuse.

But when you bring the economics into the equation it hits home. These places are indeed incredibly expensive to maintain.
Sell the place to a nice young couple with big dreams and deep pockets.

jyl · jyl's Garage

If you will just doing on-going maintenance, then it doesn't sound like any restrictions on remodeling will matter to you. Now. Down the road, it might matter.

One thing I'd do, time and energy permitting, is to learn more about the panel and their past decisions. See what proposals they have turned down and why. Find out who is on the panel and if there is any way you can get to know them - attend neighbor association meetings, maybe one of them is a parent at your kids' school (if you have kids), you get the idea.

The reason is, if you decide that the situation is really bad - restrictions extremely onerous, panel are unreasonable dicks, no way you'll be allowed to do something that you definitely plan to do in the future - then you can start thinking about an exit strategy. And can reconsider any plans to really "invest" in the house. Or, can start thinking about how to change the situation.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Funny, the lady across the street from me painted her large house Pepto-Bismol Pink. I don't really mind it - makes a nice landmark when I give people driving directions - but might have been nice if she hadn't been permitted to do so.

Tishabet · 12-30-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

In general, I wouldn't be fussed about it, unless you were planning to make some fairly significant additions and/or have very individualistic tastes in color, style, etc.

+1

I live in a historic preservation district which is itself inside of a national park! Honestly the biggest impact would be to someone looking to make an addition or something like that, for the most part I have benefited from the situation. Keep in mind, however, that I live in an urban area... if the property was residential I might get ticked off due to some of the HOA style restrictions on basketball hoops, what kinds of plants I could have, etc.

peppy · 12:48 PM

My wife agreed to buy the property as long a she could make changes to it...it has aluminum siding on it now.

Dueller · 12-30-2009, 08:55 AM

While it may be a problem if you want to tear it down and put up a post modern structure, it should not be much of an issue if you're going to just maintain as it is. Try to focus on the positive side...in some cases a home being in such a district is an advantage for some buyers who want to live in such districts.

Oftentimes there are grants available or low cost loan programs to aid you in preserving the home heritage. As someone mentioned there are often obscure tax credits for preservation efforts. As long as you don't want to do something crazy wild in modifying it externally you will be fine. Cozy up to the powers that be.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

My wife agreed to buy the property as long a she could make changes to it...it has aluminum siding on it now.

Were you planning to replace the aluminium siding with wood, or with vinyl?

I suspect the panel would love to see aluminium siding replaced with wood? If so, I would consider a future strategy of bundling all the renovations you want to do and get them reviewed and approved as a package, using the aluminium-to-wood switch as carrot to get a favorable decision on the other stuff.

peppy · 12-30-2009, 09:34 AM

I guess I'm just pissed at myself for not going to the town hall and asking....and that I have to have a certification of appropriateness to plant a bush in my yard.

I could not take a hand out to pay for up keeping a home that has no historical significance whatsoever.

peppy · 12-30-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

Were you planning to replace the aluminium siding with wood, or with vinyl?

I suspect the panel would love to see aluminium siding replaced with wood? If so, I would consider a future strategy of bundling all the renovations you want to do and get them reviewed and approved as a package, using the aluminium-to-wood switch as carrot to get a favorable decision on the other stuff.

We wanted to replace it with Hardie plank, less maintenance.

LWJ · 12-30-2009, 10:04 AM

John hits the nail on the head here. Bundle and negotiate!

In a similar situation with zoning on a waterfront location, my father in law negotiated demolition of a bunch of junk buildings if he could build two nice new buildings deviating from the code.

In the end, he was able to offer them something they wanted (removal of junk buildings) for what he wanted, construction of new buildings. Everyone felt like a winner. But in reality, we won, as the junk buildings were goners anyway.

Good luck,
Larry

Looking_for_911 · 10:37 AM

[QUOTE=onlycafe;5096552]that means no pink or chartreuse house for you.[/QUOTE]

Oh, it most certainly could! See "Rainbow Row" in Charelston, S.C.
This historical district is so strict even doorknobs have to be pre-approved.
I kind of like it though.

peppy · 12-30-2009, 11:27 AM

I just got off the phone with the Chairman, he said it is very lax and I would have no problem doing anything we want to do.

From what I gathered they are just trying to keep the trash out of the town.

I have a problem with authority. How do I fix that?

Britwrench · 12-30-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

I just got off the phone with the Chairman, he said it is very lax and I would have no problem doing anything we want to do.

From what I gathered they are just trying to keep the trash out of the town.

I have a problem with authority. How do I fix that?

I lived in a historic conservation area in the UK. It was very regulated and properites had to be painted in one color every few years, no rooftop antennas, no blinds (curtains only) specified outer doors etc, etc. The area looked good.
Did not make my life any worse.

If you have a problem with authority that's your problem not the people that live there already.