HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-10-05 Historical Commission Minutes North Andover Historical Commission
Meeting Minutes — October 5, 2026
Present: Ron Rudis (chair); Jay Dowd; Anne Lafond; Stan Limpert; Jim Wefers
1. Meeting called to order at 5:02 pm.
2. Public comments: none
3. Correspondence: none
4. Brown Court Project — presented by Yicaury Melo from Central de Apoyo Familiar (CAF):
— Project background and ownership:
— Bread and Roses Housing originally purchased 20 Brown Court circa 2023.
— The organization now owns all 3 parcels (14, 16-18, and 20 Brown Court),.
— 20 Brown Court has already undergone asbestos remediation/demolition.
a. Existing conditions and demolition plans:
— Intent to demolish the remaining existing structures at 14/16-18 Brown Court.
— 16-18 Brown Court is a two-family structure built in 1900 (over 100 years old), is in poor
physical condition.
— 14 Brown Court was constructed in 1930.
b. Community Land Trust model:
— model is a community land trust, which means that CAF will always own the land and the
homeowners will own the home.
— Homeowners enter into a 100-year ground lease with the trust.
— Homes are targeted for homeownership sale to families earning 60%-80% of AMI.
c. Site planning, zoning, easements:
— Zoning approvals were granted in July.
— Easements are established primarily to accommodate shared driveways and alley-style.
d. Architectural design and spec.s:
— The organization relies on a standardized, proprietary modular architectural design.
— Each duplex unit contains approximately 1,300 square feet with three bedrooms.
e. Project financing and funding:
— The project carries an active funding gap of approximately $600,000
— Applications are pending or being prepared for several funding sources.
f. Regulatory review:
— letter from MHC identified the project location (14-18 Brown Court) as an integral component
of the Machine Shop Village Historic District, asserting that demolitions in the district cause
an "adverse effect.'.
— To qualify for MassHousing NSP grant funding, the applicant requires formal local clearance
resolving this adverse determination, certifying that razing the specific existing homes will not
harm local historic integrity
g. Local CPA eligibility
— North Andover CPA previously granted funding to Bread and Roses strictly for land
acquisition.
— Rudis recommended re-applying to the CPC during the upcoming funding cycle to subsidize
construction gaps.
Action: Upon securing a vote of approval or written endorsement letter from the Machine Shop
Village commission, the applicant will deliver documentation to the Historical
Commission for immediate follow-up action and issuance of the
5. Historical Preservation Plan Tasks:
a. Design Guidelines:
— Project consultant Peter Benton reported he had not yet received the finalized municipal
contract from the town, causing an approximate two-month
— Rudis contacted town administration (procurement) to resolve the administrative backlog;
execution of the contract is expected
b. MACRI S status
— Commission still has CPC funds
— The Chair will place a formal agenda item on the upcoming meeting to vote on whether to
return these unexpended funds to the CPC unless an actionable
6. Old Burying Ground
a. CPA application for informational signage. Status update on CPA signage grant
proposal postponed to the next meeting.
b. Tree rem oval.
— The Chair conducted an on-site consultation with the municipal Tree Warden regarding tree
removals along the property border.
— The Tree Warden formally refused to remove any living, healthy trees, specifically protecting
large pine and mature maple specimens displaying no evidence of dead limb decay or
systemic disease.
Action: The Tree Warden agreed to prune back live tree canopies and remove dead trees
positioned along the boundary perimeter.
7. Sept. 2, 2026 meeting minutes approval. Limpert motioned, seconded by Lafond, to approve the
meeting minutes. Approved 5-0.
8. Other Business:
a. Frye House status
— House sale still not closed
— Potential buyer still seeking funds for purchase.
b. Scholfield Mill Assessment status:
— The Commission reviewed the draft assessment study examining preservation and adaptive
reuse possibilities for the historic Schofield Mill
— Stakeholders formally rejected several commercial conversions (such as restaurant
redevelopment)
9. Meeting adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
Documents Distributed: none