Acton's Asa Parlin House - Historic Value vs. Financial Toll [VIDEO]

Many historians and pragmatic financial thinkers stepped up to the plate during Wednesday night's meeting, June 13, about what the Town should do about the 'Asa Parlin House;' the home that has been deteriorating on the inside and out for quite some time.

A quick sum-up of the home:

• Location: 17 Woodburry Lane
• The CPA provided $20,000 for a preservation and restoration study after passing a vote at the 2011 Town Meeting
• The home was purchased by the Town in 1996 for $300,000 to help expand the parking at the property (Town Hall & Library)
• The home was first occupied in 1861
• Portions of the home date back to the late 18th century
• The home may have been moved to the site
• The original structure consisted of one room
• The home was occupied by Asa Parlin from 1870 and later occupied by Asaph Parlon (might be the son - unknown) in the early 1900's
• An addition to the home was later added on in the 1970's (dubbed by many Town employees and experts as a structurally bad addition)
• the Acton Patch interview with previous owner of the "Asa Parlin House," Molly (Vaillancourt) Lyttle.

The Faulkner Room of the Town Hall was semi-packed with many Acton residents interested in providing their input during a community workshop. Town hired architecture firm Menders, Torry & Spencer, Inc., Municipal Properties Director Dean Charter and Historic District Commission (HDC) members heard public input from many in the audience about their opinions of what to do with the house. 

Public input:

Residents from Woodbury Lane said they were disappointed that the house has not been taken care of while the Town has had ownership and did not want to see new parking spaces added if the home was completely demolished.

• Dean Charter commented that even if the the Town decided to add what would probably be only 13 new parking spaces, that it would not curb the parking problem at the site.

Many voiced concerns about losing the historic aspect of the Town Center by completely demolishing the home and unanimously stated that they would be okay with seeing the 1970's addition demolished and the original structure preserved.

Others voiced concerns about the financial toll a preservation project of this nature will have on the tax payer and felt it made sense to completely understand the financial situation before providing any feedback on what to do with the home.

One woman proposed turning the building into an Art School/Studio for children.

The study will be ongoing this summer and the findings will be presented to the HDC, the CPC and the Board of Selectmen (BOS). Once the study is completed, the BOS will determine what the Town will do with the home.

Start a conversation here. Communicate with each other by leaving a comment about your opinion on the matter. Also check out our on this subject.

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