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Historical
Commission, Napleton reach accord on 2 Revere buildings
By Jay Turner
Citizen Staff
Two of
Canton’s most historically significant buildings were spared
last week after the Historical Commission and the owners of the
Plymouth Rubber site managed to avoid a last minute impasse at a
public hearing and agreed to take both structures off of a
demolition request.
By a
unanimous vote, the Commissioners agreed Thursday not to delay
the demolition of seven other buildings on the property on the
condition that the owners — Napleton LLC out of Chicago —
preserve both the Revere Barn and Revere Rolling Mill — two of
the last remnants of the Revere Copper Company, which was
established by the famed patriot and Canton resident Paul Revere
in 1801.
The
Historical Commission had called the hearing to determine
whether to enforce the town’s demolition delay by-law, which
allows the Commission to delay for six months the demolition of
any building built prior to 1940 that it deems historically
significant. The delay in this instance was not necessary as
Napleton agreed to voluntarily remove the buildings from its
demolition request.
Under the
terms of the agreement, Napleton can technically reapply for a
demolition permit after June 1; however, the company’s attorney,
Paul Schneiders, stressed repeatedly at the hearing that they
have no intentions of tearing either building down.
“They are
definitely planning to save those two buildings if they can,”
said Schneiders earlier in the hearing.
He even
mentioned possible uses for the buildings, including a community
center and a store; but he explained to the commissioners that
his clients still want to reserve the right to change their
minds, especially if they fail to get a favorable article past
the Planning Board and Town Meeting.
“I honestly
believe by Town Meeting we will have an article endorsed by us
and the Planning Board,” he said. “I just wish I had a crystal
ball.”
Although the
owners said they plan to develop the property with a mix of
residential and retail spaces, with the historical structures
possibly figuring prominently in the new design, Schneiders said
a worst-case scenario would involve the property remaining an
industrial site and being sold to another company — in which
case the buildings may not be preserved.
Despite the
owners’ uncertainty, the mood throughout much of the night was
calm, as both sides appeared to be making a conscious effort to
avoid the tension that characterized the preliminary hearing.
Tensions
resurfaced late in the hearing, however, when Commissioner
George Comeau proposed excluding two other buildings from the
demolition list on the grounds that they are currently connected
to the rolling mill. Commissioner Michael Nourse then agreed
with Comeau in suggesting the Historical Commission do some
further research on the buildings before allowing them to be
demolished.
“When these
are gone, they’re gone forever.” Comeau reminded the board.
A frustrated
Schneiders fired back: “I heard the Revere Barn in 2000. In the
last couple of months I heard the rolling mill. Now I’m hearing
[the other two buildings]? That’s unfair.”
With
Schneiders and his clients threatening to withdraw their offer,
Commission Chairman Wallace Gibbs then introduced an amended
motion that would only exclude the barn and the rolling mill.
“We had our
chance to do something with [the other buildings] if we were so
concerned,” said Gibbs.
Asbestos
removal
In the
course of the hearing, Commissioners asked the owners about the
presence of asbestos on the site.
Richard
Brandstatter, Napleton’s Director of Real Estate who spoke at
length about the company’s demolition plans, said there is
definitely asbestos, but it is “not necessarily very extensive.”
Brandstatter
said there are asbestos tiles and asbestos insulation in some of
the buildings, but it would all be properly removed before any
demolition begins.
One of the
reasons Napleton cited for wanting to begin demolition so
quickly was a concern for safety. Schneiders said he has
consulted with police and fire officials, and that both agree
that the buildings and their contents pose a real danger to the
community if left unoccupied for too long.
In fact,
Schneiders said fire officials told him that the real concern
with a fire on the site would involve the smoke, as it would
certainly contain hazardous pollutants that could be carried
into the downtown area, quite possibly leading to an evacuation.
Now
that they have Historical Commission approval, Brandstatter said
demolition could begin as early as December
November
22, 2007
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