Historic Commission Delays Demolition of Century-Old Home

The Milton Historical Commission voted at its September 16^th meeting to delay the destruction of a century old home at 685 Brush Hill Road, therefore stalling a five-lot housing development at the site.

 The approximate five and half acre lot is currently owned by the Margaret Boyle Estate. The main house was the site of a fire in 2008 and has been left vacant and subject to the weather since then.  Milton resident, Aldo Ruscito, has a purchase and sale on the property which allows him to raise finances for development.

For several months Ruscito has been meeting with the town's Planning Board offering ideas regarding what would be consistent with neighborhood's historic architecture and landscape. The Historic Commission's vote will delay Ruscito's plans for nine months, during which time the Boyle Estate will search for a buyer that is willing to develop the property as is. If no buyer is found, Ruscito may proceed as he wishes.

At the September 10^th Planning Board meeting the developer's engineer Jim Burke presented a rough design to the board and interested neighbors on what the five lot development may look like. Each lot had outlines of 34 ft. by 48 ft. single car garage homes and a new public street leading up to homes.

Burke stated that the developer would like to stay consistent with the historic qualities of the district. Neighbors said that the trees in the area were very old and should be salvaged. Burke told them that there was one particular Beech tree they estimated to be close to a century old and with an eighty foot canopy that they fully intend to save. After encouragement by the neighbors he and the developer's attorney, Bob Sheffield said they would take a closer look at the property to see what other trees could be saved.

At the Planning Board meeting, Ed Duffy, planning board member, said that the five lot development would be a more attractive offer for a buyer in this market rather than the fire damaged house and the carriage. Planning Board Chair Alexander Whiteside noted that the board has no authority to push the owner in either direction.