Historic District Commission Appointing a Subcommittee to Create New District

The Historic District Commission invited members of other boards and town residents to join the group drafting the study to create a new historic district at the Orchard House property.

Wednesday night, the commission approved sending a letter to the Walker School, which runs Beacon High School, a property on which is located.

The commission will study turning the entire Beacon High School property, at 917 Belmont Street, into a historic district. They will base the ordinance for the new district on the one written when in the unsuccessful effort to create the Brigham Historic District north of Mt. Auburn Street.

Currently the Orchard House has a . The Walker School had applied to tear it down to make more room on campus for gym and art classes.

Other work must be done before the study can be sent to the Massachusetts Historic Commission, including some research and a lot of writing and reviewing the study, said Historic District Commission Chairman Harvey Steiner.

Along with Steiner and HDC member Ken Sheytanian, members of the study group include Historical Commission chairman Davide Russo, and Historical Society members Marilynne Roach and Joyce Kelly. 

The study subcommittee will meet before the next Historic District Commission meeting on Sept. 19, Steiner said.

Steve Tannenbaum, vice president of the Walker School board of directors, said the school seeks to preserve the Orchard House.

"I look forward to working with the the town to preserve the building," Tannenbaum said.

Tannenbaum and representatives of the Walker School will host a meeting on Sept. 18 at Town Hall to meet with interested members of the community.