Legislation To Protect Melrose History, Promote 'Responsible Development' Is Introduced

MELROSE, MA — The mayor and the Melrose Historical Commission are taking a stand to protect historically significant buildings and promote "responsible development" across the city. Legislation was introduced Wednesday that would impose a six-month moratorium on the demolition of buildings constructed prior to 1940, or which are considered registered historic places.

The ordinance will be heard by the Board of Aldermen in their October 2 meeting. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for more local news and alerts

"I believe the demolition delay ordinance will be an important tool in helping to protect historically significant resources in Melrose and help further guide our long-standing objective of responsible development across the City and in our neighborhoods," said Mayor Rob Dolan on his blog. "This ordinance will provide a significant window of opportunity to consider other alternatives to the demolition of the building."

Under the ordinance, all such applications filed with the Building Commissioner would be sent to the Historical Commission for a public hearing process.

"The Melrose Historical Commission urges the Board of Aldermen to pass this demolition delay ordinance," said Historical Commission Chair James Bennett. "Demolition delay is a tried-and-true tool that dozens of municipalities across the Commonwealth have employed for decades to protect the historical fabric of their communities. Owing to the tight real estate market in the city, demolitions have increased in Melrose in recent years, and we are at risk of forever losing the architectural heritage that makes this such an aesthetically attractive city in which to live and work. The implementation of a demolition delay ordinance would work to reduce such losses."

Dolan laid out why this is of such significance.

"This important ordinance is intended to preserve and protect significant buildings within our City which constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural, cultural, and social history of the city," he said.