RightSize Newton Supports Petition To Save Historic Land

NEWTON, MA — RightSize Newton, a local nonprofit that advocates for careful review of proposed developments, is supporting a petition to ask the Newton Historical Commission (NHC) to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness to the developer attempting to build a new structure on the site of the Gershom Hyde House at 29 Greenwood Street.

The Gershom Hyde House, which was built in 1744 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, was torn down without warning by developer Ty Gupta, according to Department of Planning and Development meeting minutes from the May 27 session. Although an attorney told the commission that Gupta admitted to his mistakes and offered to rebuild the house, RightSize says rebuilding will not solve the issue.

Here's Some Background Information:

The Gershom Hyde House went before the Newton Historical Commission in 2017, 2018, and 2019 for extensions to an approved Certificate of Appropriateness certificate for restoration and construction of a rear addition. The property changed ownership in January 2021, but the work commenced according to the previously approved plans.

When an Inspectional Services Department (ISD) building inspector visited the site in April, however, they observed that the house had been replaced by new framing. A Stop Work order was issued due to violations of the NHC-approved plan and work at the site ceased.

Although the NHC voted unanimously to uphold the Stop Work Order on May 27, Gupta is still trying to get permission to build on the site by asking for a Certificate of Appropriateness, said RightSize Newton in a statement. The proposed house has been listed for sale at $4.1 million.

What now?

The RightSize Newton petition will formally ask the NHC to deny Gupta's request ahead of the hearing on August 26. The petition will be submitted on August 19.

"In our view, Ty Gupta should not be permitted to profit from an egregious violation of the Newton Landmark law, that resulted in the loss of one of the very few pre-revolutionary buildings in Newton," says the petition. "In order to protect our other historic landmarks, we need to send a signal that developers cannot get away with violating our preservation laws."

For more information or to add your name to the petition, send an email to David Patterson at ddrpat@gmail.com or Stephen Farrell at scf7462@gmail.com.