Select Board to Weigh Appeal of Historical Commission Decision

"It's not about the individual boards that are in the house. It's really about the fabric of the community, and preserving the mass and scale of the streetscape," Architect Peter Fletcher, Historic Commission member. "If they (Select Board) essentially say, yeah, just tear it down, it kneecaps this entire commission."

At its Tuesday, May 19 meeting (click for agenda/Zoom link), Medfield Select Board will hold a 6 p.m. hearing regarding a request by developer Salvatore Capital Partners to overturn the unanimous decision by Medfield Historical Commission to impose an 18-month demolition delay on the vacant historic home (circa 1795) at 13 South St. in accordance with town bylaws.

According to a letter submitted to the commission by Town Historian Richard DeSorgher, the house was originally one half of the old 1795 Wheelock store; the other half is currently at 15 South St., which was restored into a residence. The two houses were meant to be twin structures. Store owner was Oliver Wheelock, great-great grandson of Ralph Wheelock, founder of Medfield.

Salvatore Capital Partners, operating as Medfield 446 Main LLC, purchased the property in 2014 from the Kelly family not long after it had purchased the former Lord's Department Store site.

Salvatore applied for a demolition permit that same year to create extra parking, but the commission imposed an 18-month delay that expired in May 2016.

Another request to demolish the property was submitted to the commission on April 11, 2023.

Once again, the commission voted to impose an 18-month demolition delay due to the historical significance of the house. However, based on March 2024 architectural plans -- and subsequent revisions to rebuild the house in keeping with the character of the neighborhood -- the commission voted to lift the demolition delay. After doing so, commissioners were surprised to learn that significant changes were made to the architectural plans -- changes that deviated from what had been previously presented. Regardless, the project was allowed to proceed.

A Plan Never Executed Despite Advantages

Despite the presence of detailed architectural plans, no meaningful work has been done on the house since the last set of drawings was shared with the commission in 2024. Instead, Salvatore submitted its third demolition request for a hearing on Feb. 11, 2026, which the commission unanimously and quickly denied. Discussion lasted a little more than 5 minutes.

"We're doing what we have to do here. It's a 1790s house. It's preferably preserved. It has historical value. It's a no brainer from where we sit," said commissioner Joe Opiela at the Historic Commission meeting on April 8.

As is a developer's right, Salvatore is now appealing the commission decision to the Select Board. Based on the last application submitted to the commission in December 2025, his plan is to fill in the foundation with gravel.

At their recent meeting, commissioners weren't shy about expressing their views about the need to stop demolition, the historical significance of the house, and the role the Select Board now plays.

Architect Peter Fletcher, who has extensive experience designing award-winning historical restorations and renovations, was particularly vocal with his views, and his fellow commissioners agreed with him.

"I don't know which way the Select Board is going to go, but if they essentially say, yeah, just tear it down, it kneecaps this entire commission," said Fletcher. "The point of these commissions is to preserve houses like this. It's to preserve and deter developers from coming in and just bulldozing down old houses."

Fletcher added, "It's not about the individual boards that are in the house. It's really about the fabric of the community, and preserving the mass and scale of the streetscape. I don't care if you replace every single stud in the house and every single floorboard, every single joist rafter. It doesn't matter, plus, we don't have jurisdiction over anything other than what is visible from the public way."

Commissioner Doug Whitla, a builder who specializes in historic preservation and custom homes with historic character, also stressed the benefits of rebuilding the house.

"The right architect recognizes that by saving that house, you're able to build right up to the sidewalk. And so if he saved that front facade, he's able to maximize the lot, whereas, once they tear it all town it (a new house) must meet normal setbacks," said Whitla.

Both Fletcher and Whitla agreed the historic house could be salvaged despite the developer's statements otherwise.

A Developer with Significant Downtown Influence

In addition to 13 South St. and the Brothers Marketplace site, Salvatore is full or partial owner of the Starbuck's property and Bullard's Plaza. The company also attempted to purchase the Park Street Books site, but due to legal action by the owners, Salvatore was unable to obtain the property.

DeSorgher noted in his letter that loss of the house at 13 South St. would not only separate it from its historic twin, but drastically change the nature of the neighborhood.

"(It) would also distract from the historic corner of Main and South Street with the historic Baptist Church, the historic 1816 Fairbanks House and the historic 17th century Fisher Homestead," he stated.

If the Select Board upholds the Historic Commission 18-month demolition delay, according to town bylaws, demolition can proceed in advance of the expiration date if:

• Proof is provided there is no reasonable likelihood that either the owner or some other reasonable person or group is willing to purchase, preserve, rehabilitate, or restore said structure.
• For at least six months the owner proves he has made continuing, bona fide, and reasonable efforts to locate a purchaser to preserve, rehabilitate, and restore the subject historically significant structure, and that such efforts have been unsuccessful.
• The commission determines on its own that "The proposed demolition may be conducted in a manner that is not detrimental to the historical, architectural or archaeological resources of the Town."

(Updated with new information and to correct typos.)