Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Planning Board continues its work as does developer of site of 1760-era house.
As language continues being developed towards the creation of a bylaw that will delay the demolition of "historically significant" buildings and homes in Belmont, the first outward evidence that the owner/developer of one of the oldest residential buildings in town at 59 Common St. is preparing the property for new use, one that does not include the old house. As a tree service removed mature trees and vegetation around the two-and-a-half century old home over the past weekend, a new view of one of the oldest houses in Belmont emerged, much as it would have looked after it was built in the 1760s. But the work is being done in preparation of removing the historic house to build two residential homes. Owner Mark Barons has been in talks with…
42.39627
-71.17714
Belmont Town Hall
455 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA
/articles/as-demo-delay-debated-clark-house-land-cleared
157295
/locations/5678082
42.39394
-71.1759
59 Common St, Belmont, MA
/articles/as-demo-delay-debated-clark-house-land-cleared
/locations/5678083
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A roaring Lions Club and residents place a large roadblock before plans to move the historic building.
Christmas is looming to be a huge humbug to plans to save a big part of Belmont's history. The holiday's importance to one of Belmont's leading charitable organizations in addition to growing concerns from homeowners on Royal Road, Clark and Thomas streets have placed yet another potential huge roadblock to one resident's effort to preserve a town historic treasure. The issues came to a head at Tuesday's Planning Board meeting as architect Erik Rhodin presented an updated version of his grand plan to move the pre-Revolutionary War structure from its present location at 59 Common St. a few hundred yards closer to Belmont Center on land adjacent to the MBTA Commuter Rail Station and the Belmont Lions Club. Rhodin's plan not only calls for …
42.394
-71.17943
Royal Rd & Clark St, Belmont, MA
/articles/will-christmas-doom-the-thomas-clark-house
/locations/5474218
42.3957
-71.17602
Belmont Lions Club
1 Common St, Belmont, MA
/articles/will-christmas-doom-the-thomas-clark-house
230776
/locations/5474219
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Selectmen are OK with plans to move pre-Revolutionary building but not with town money.
When it comes to the future of the Thomas Clark House – the pre-Revolutionary house at 59 Common St. slated to be demolished to make room for new residential development – architect Erik Rhodin admits saving the historic homestead is tenuous at best. "There are many, many moving parts" to his plan to save the structure built in the early 1760s, admitted Rhodin Monday night after presenting his proposal to the Belmont Board of Selectmen. Yet the Belmont native who is a principle with Line Company Architects is hopeful that each piece of this preservation puzzle will fit in the end. "I believe I am getting the support needed to make this work," said Rhodin who brought to the Selectmen essentially the same plan he presented in August that …
42.39394
-71.1759
59 Common St, Belmont, MA
/articles/will-pieces-fall-into-place-for-thomas-clark-house
/locations/5355180
Friday, August 12, 2011
Pending tear down of 18th century farmhouse could be a catalyst for bylaws to limit demolition.
Near the end of a meeting where answers were hard to come by, a quiet descended over the meeting attempting to find some way, any way, to save the historic Thomas Clark House on Common Street from the wrecking ball. "It's like a wake," said Michael Smith, Historic District Commission co-chairman, breaking the silence. "It's like a funeral," said Peter Sifneos, who was part-owner of the house with his two sisters after the death of their father. The representation of a final good-bye to a significant part of Belmont's history was apt as the Commission and the handful of residents who attended the meeting held at Town Hall, Thursday, Aug. 11, could find little to stem the realization that one of town's best-known homes will soon be a pile …
42.39394
-71.1759
59 Common St, Belmont, MA
/articles/little-hope-for-clark-house-as-time-grows-short
/locations/5083568
tess_shiva
8:53 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wow, this is an ambitious idea. While it is admirable to want to save an historic building (and to sweeten the pot by adding needed housing), there are too many issues that would have to be addressed for the project to move forward fast enough. Wetlands development involves the state, town land involves the voters, low income property development that involves abutters (including a war memorial … more ›