Status of Union Square Local Historic District? City: “We’re working on it”
Rob Buchanan writes
Hi All,
I was dismayed to walk down Somerville Avenue today (Wednesday, December 19) to see that the old American Legion Hall (previously a Greek Orthodox Church) build in 1923 was demolished.
This building was one of several that were being considered in the neighborhood as part of a Local Historic District…an effort that has been long delayed by foot-dragging at City Hall. (I first heard about this effort back in 2012 or 2013, and still no action has been taken.)
You can learn more about the building at 217 Somerville in the Historic Preservation Commission report below (URL link), but in summary, it was an important center of Greek religious life in Somerville from 1923 to the 1950s, after which it became an American Legion Hall, an organization that served many Somerville World War II and Korean War veterans.
It turns out that very few historically significant buildings in Union Square have local historic district (LHD) designation. As the pace of re-development increases, we may very well see continued demolition of these buildings. Ideally, these structures would have some level of historic protection, so they can be rehabbed and incorporated into new uses. There are several examples of former church buildings on Bow Street that have been converted into housing. Somerville needs to make room for new housing and commercial development, while also valuing the contributions and structures of previous generations that led to the diverse community we have today.
We need to advocate that the Mayor and the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development move forward with the Union Square Local Historic District expansion and put it before the Board of Aldermen. (This was called for in the Union Square Neighborhood Plan.) Here are their email addresses:
mayor@somervillema.gov
boardofaldermen@somervillema.gov
planning@somervillema.gov
Rob Buchanan
16 Wesley Park
Historic Preservation Commission Report on 217 Somerville Ave
Alderperson Stephanie Hirsch replied:
Hi –
I don’t know much about this, but will pass along two pieces of information in case they are helpful (probably many of you already have this info and/or know way more than I do…)
From staff (via the constrction@somervillema.gov email) about the American Legion Hall…
“I spoke with folks in ISD to get some background info, and, to echo Rich, they said the building was deemed to be unsafe. Demo is still in progress and being coordinated around police-detail availability. The permit was issued last week, and a notice was hand-delivered to abutters. The building is under private ownership, and the demo is not related to the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvements Project. If there’s something else in particular folks were interested in, please let me know and we can track down some more details.”
Also note, I saw that the Union Square Local Historic District was on the 12/18/18 agenda for the Historic Preservation Commission. When I asked about that, staff said: “The Union Square Local Historic District (LHD) has been in progress for several years — since about 2013 — and has been a long process. Creating an LHD in portions of Union Square has been part of the planning process that also went into the creation of the Union Square Neighborhood Plan. Part of the state legal requirement for creating a district is to extensively survey all of the properties identified for inclusion. This was completed in two phases, one of which was a year long. Writing a Preliminary Study Report is also part of the mandated process and is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday with the Commission.”
I’d be happy to learn or ask more and help where/however I can.
Stephanie
617–512–4847
