voices: the community speaks of Nantucket and GHYC

David R. Wiley, Architect Inc.
68 Union Street
Nantucket, MA 02554
(508) 228-6855

March 19, 2004

Nantucket Historic District Commission
37 Washington Street
Nantucket, MA 02554

Dear Chairman, Board Members and Staff,

At this time I would like to address a few critical points regarding the Great Harbor Yacht Club Application which has been submitted for seven separate Demolition requests. It has been the standard practice not to review any proposed demolition applications until the Applications for replacement structures have been submitted. In fact the board generally doesn't review the demolition until the new proposed has been approved.

I would remind this board that I submitted a fax (see attached) in opposition to the move off of this cottage now being demolished and was assure by the Chairwoman, Linda Williams, that the Main house move/demo would not be considered until plans were submitted for its replacement. Here we are a few months later and "the cart is again before the horse". Please be consistent and don't allow any discussion of these proposed demolitions until complete and accurate New Building applications have been submitted.

I believe the survey forms for two of the Boat Yard buildings are inaccurate. I have attached a copy of a photo dated 1926 which shows two of the structures in existence.

It is my belief that these structures are in fact Contributing Structures since they are "ones judged to add to the historic district's sense of time, place and historic development," a clear and continued example of almost 100 years of boat building, repair, waterfront commerce and fishing can be documented with this site and its structures.

These are the kind of Historic Structures that needs to remain to show what Nantucket really was about in its beginning. Please use careful and deliberate consideration before the last example of the Historic Waterfront use is demolished and therefore lost forever. These structures could have the honor of becoming the new GHYC if the use of the property must change forever. Reuse is a very historical way to combine the new with the old and maintain the connection with the past.

Also attached is a copy of the Town of Nantucket Core Historic District to which the guidelines apply. I feel it is important to remind the board that in order to maintain the Historic Character of this district these guidelines were created please do not allow for aluminum or clad windows with or with out snap-ins. This is the Core District and needs our careful and dedicated watch. If the board members start making major exceptions to these guidelines you'll open the door to Lawsuits and others will follow. We all live on the water in some form or another and it is a small island.

This same agent has been denied the installed windows which exist today with applied grilles in the OHD, and is involved in the PVC trim debate now before this board. Beware the slippery slope - Give someone an inch they will take a mile.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sincerely,

David Robert Wiley, Architect Inc.

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GHYC attachment regarding Demolition:

In reference to Building with Nantucket in Mind, I would like to highlight the following:

pg. 20 Demolition:

"The last and final insult any structure must endure is demolition. On Nantucket, where historic architecture is not just the stuff of museums but of day-today life, its protection goes beyond merely preserving a sense of place and enters the realm of public trust. The community takes responsibility for its architectural heritage through the commissioners of the HDC and is rewarded by the right to enjoy the individual as well as collective structural richness that defines the town along with the smaller settlements and much of what lies beyond their boundaries. Tearing down a building, then, is not a casual affair on Nantucket. Rather, it is an option of last resort, and one for which approval is an often arduous process. What might, to an owner, appear to be a purely private matter grows in possible ramifications on Nantucket: Plucking out a single building may cut a noticeable - and irretrievable- hole in the historic fabric of the island's architecture."

"The commission, then, requires that all reasonable alternatives be explored prior to issuing a Certificate of Appropriateness approving demolition. Rather than act in haste, the Commission takes the position that a time period for consideration is worthwhile to avoid the unnecessary razing of architecturally, historically or culturally significant buildings. Also, this "stay of execution" provides a process through which the right of the public to continue to enjoy a building can be weighed against the right of the owner to determine the fate of his own property. Before permission to demolish a building will be granted, a public hearing on the plan will be held in not than 60 days after the Commission receives the completed application."

"A protected structure - one determined by the Commission as being in the public interest to preserve or rehabilitate - will not be approved for demolition unless one of two standards is met: 1) the structure is not a significant one or 2) the structure is a protected structure by virtue of its presence in the historic district but is non-contributing to the district. These two standards for approval will also require additional documentation or evidence, as the Commission thinks necessary, to substantiate a claim for destroying a building. (See Appendix C.)"

"A significant structure is defined as any building on the island 50 years old or older which is either: 1) associated with one or more historic figures or events, or with broad island architectural, cultural, political. Economic or social history; or 2) is historically or architecturally significant either by itself or in context with the other buildings, in terms of period, style, method of building construction or association with a noted architect or builder."

" A non-contributing structure is defined as a building which is not an intrusion but does not add to a historic district's sense of time, place and historic development. A structure deemed an intrusion is so because it lacks compatibility with its surrounding buildings in the historic district, detracting rather than adding of merely conforming to the scene of which it is a part."

"Contributing structures, ones judged to add to the historic district's sense of time, place and historic development, and their more esteemed cousin-buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places or those that may be candidates for this status-are the most carefully protected designations. In the case of either of these, no building so deemed or any portion thereof will be approved for destruction unless it is judged to be a public hazard, in which case the building inspector or court must sign the order for demolition. Even then, all reasonable measures to save rather than raze will be the preferred course of action."

"In addition, the Commission may order the owners of structures involved in procedures for demolition to take the necessary measures to prevent further deterioration or destruction while the process for consideration is ongoing. Owners may also be required to provide the following: 1) black and white photos of the entire structure, showing all elevations; 2) documentation, if available, of the date of construction; and 3) measured, as-built drawings."

" A notice provided by the Commission must also be posted on any structure for which approval for demolition is sought. The notice must read: "This Protected Structure has been proposed to be demolished by its owner. For further information, contact the office of the Historic District Commission, Town of Nantucket". Additionally, notification of all property owners within 500 feet of a given structure may be required by the Commission. Other individuals who have registered their interest in preservation will also be notified. (For the Commission's policy on Demolition, see Appendix C)."