Thank you, Michael. I am not sure why we cannot eliminate N.Lewis St form all options and allow us a better chance at pursuing the National Historic designation that was interrupted in 2012. Perhaps you are correct-less rush to a vote might allow further consideration of this historical objective.
------ Sara Mattes > On Nov 26, 2023, at 5:49 PM, Michael Dembowski <mjdembow...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Following up on Sarah P. and Carl's emails - and confirmed by Sara M - > Why is it that ONLY Option E - developed by the Alternative Group - aligns > with the Historic Society's recommendation? > Why can't this variable be eliminated so that ALL options either follow the > Historic Society's recommendation - or not? > The North Side of Lewis Street will never be the deciding factor given the > options as they are now defined. > It seems nonsensical that the options differ on North Lewis Street - and that > the Town's Working Group and Historical Society hold opposing positions in > the options being brought to Town Meeting. > If the Working Group might consider the Historical Society's recommendations > but believe they do not have the time to revise their options - that only > reinforces the point often heard - the process is being unnecessarily rushed. > > Michael Dembowski > Conant Road > > On Fri, Nov 24, 2023 at 7:49 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com > <mailto:samat...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> Hello Carl! >> >> I am delighted to learn of your interest in the history of the north side of >> Lewis St. and its role in the development of the station area. >> The town deemed this area of such importance that a report was >> commissioned , in collaboration with the Lincoln Historical Society, to >> prepare a report for submission for placement of a North Lewis Street >> district on the National Historic Register. (see attachment) >> The creation of such a district is still on our agenda. >> >> The development of the station area began in 1869, and these building were >> the only commercial buildings for many years. >> The area we now call “the mall” did not become available for any development >> until the 1960s as it was a part of the Codman estate until that time. >> N. Lewis St. housed pickle factories (Underwood Deviled Ham was one), the >> first PO in the area, a small store for provisions and a livery/garage and a >> tenement to house workers. >> It was the first hub of commerce in Lincoln. >> The buildings you see today on the north side of Lewis St. are the only >> remaining physical reminders of the turning point in Lincoln’s history. >> >> While some may call them “ugly,” beauty is in the eye of the beholder and >> to those of us who value all of the important reminders of our recent and >> distant past in our built environment, north Lewis St. certainly has it's >> own unique “beauty.” >> >> For further information on this development and more of Lincoln’s history, I >> commend to you Jack MacLean’s A Rich Harvest, available at Something >> Special, the Old Town Hall Exchange, the Lincoln Library, and, or course, >> the Lincoln Historical Society. >> >> And, here is a link to a talk, given by Jack MacLean years ago (the video >> will date it!), filled with wonderful images of those bygone days. >> cloud.castus.tv >> >> >> <https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/video/64d671350ec3e8f899434eb5?page=HOME>cloud.castus.tv >> >> <https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/video/64d671350ec3e8f899434eb5?page=HOME> >> >> <https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/video/64d671350ec3e8f899434eb5?page=HOME> >> >> The question of rezoning is that the potential to bundle all these >> properties for redevelopment makes it difficult to pursue historic >> protection. >> The only tool we have, is the Demolition Delay Bylaw and is of limited >> effect. >> A developer can simply wait out the year delay, and then proceed. >> Without this rezoning , we have an opportunity to pursue strategies for >> historic designation, including financial, that we will not have if rezoned. >> >> As to making a request for exclusion of N.Lewis St., at the Oct. 26 meeting >> of the Lincoln Historical Society Board of Directors, it was determined that >> a request for exemption of N.Lewis St. from all HCA proposed options should >> be made through the Historical Commission and their representative to the >> HCAWG. >> We met with the HC on Nov. 7 and made this presentation. >> >> >> >> To date, the only option that exempts N.Lewis St. from HCA rezoning and >> provides a more secure path for historic preservation is Option E. >> >> >> On behalf of all who value the rich history embedded in our built >> environment, we thank you for your interest. >> >> Regards, >> Sara Mattes, President >> Lincoln Historical Society >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------ >> Sara Mattes >> >> >> >> >>> On Nov 24, 2023, at 7:00 AM, Carl Angiolillo <carlangioli...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:carlangioli...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> I love learning new things about town and appreciate Sarah's attachment >>> with the history of Lewis St. But it also raises a few questions. >>> >>> > North Lewis was excluded [from Option E] at the request of the Lincoln >>> > Historical Society since every property on the North side of Lewis is >>> > considered Historical >>> >>> First, omitting the historic lots (e.g. the building with the Clark >>> Gallery, the Food Project building, 14 Lewis, and the Pickle Factory >>> buildings) seems to make the lots across the street on the south/west side >>> of Lewis St discontinuous with the rest of the subdistrict. Does that >>> present a compliance issue for Option E? (I recall the Housing Choice Act >>> Working Group including a few lots in Options C and D primarily for >>> continuity reasons.) >>> >>> Second, does rezoning a historic building under the HCA reduce it's >>> protection and if so to what degree? >>> >>> Third, did the Lincoln Historical Society (Sara Mattes et al) or anyone >>> else make a similar request to the Housing Choice Act Working Group to omit >>> these lots from options C and D and if so what was the reason for including >>> them anyway? >>> >>> Carl >>> Codman Rd >>> >>> P.S. Apologies if these questions have already been answered, I am not >>> confident I have read all of the emails flying back and forth. >>> >>> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>
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